unable to withdraw

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unable to withdraw" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is not able to take back or remove something, such as a statement, request, or financial transaction. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am currently unable to withdraw my application for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Under 100%-reserve banking, depositors would no longer have to live in fear of being unable to withdraw their deposits because banks would have the liquid reserves to cover withdrawals.

Forbes

Overnight, they were unable to withdraw their money.

The New York Times

I've rolled up to a station and been unable to withdraw a hopelessly stuck charging nozzle from its holster.

The Guardian

"This meant the customer was unable to withdraw additional funds from their account until the pre-authorisation request was removed".

The Guardian - Money

Twice in a week, a few dozen disgruntled soldiers ran amok in the streets of Harare, the capital, after they had been unable to withdraw cash from banks.

The Economist

The country's bank system ground to a complete stop, with branches closed, the clearing system suspended and customers unable to withdraw or deposit money.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Fatimid general returned to Aleppo, but was unable to take it and withdrew later in the year.

Wikipedia

Mothers who were current smokers were less likely to refuse to enter an environment where SHS was present, to control passive exposure by requesting smokers to stop smoking, or to attenuate exposure when unable to fully withdraw from SHS.

BMC Public Health

Examples of the avoidance behavior of SHS included the following general actions: (1) Refusing to enter an environment where SHS is present; (2) Controlling passive exposure by requesting smokers to stop smoking; (3) Attenuating exposure when unable to fully withdraw from SHS; for instance, opening the window to diffuse the smoke in the room.

BMC Public Health

In spite of the heavy losses his force had suffered, Ichiki's troops remained in place on the east bank of the creek, either unable or unwilling to withdraw.

Wikipedia

After a slow start to 2014, Woods injured himself during the Honda Classic and was unable to finish, withdrawing after 13 holes of the final round citing back pain.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider stronger synonyms like "prohibited" or "prevented" for a more impactful statement, if contextually appropriate.

Common error

Avoid substituting "reluctant to withdraw" when you mean "unable to withdraw". "Reluctant" implies a willingness issue, while "unable" indicates a genuine lack of capacity or permission.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unable to withdraw" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase modifying an implied or stated subject. Ludwig AI shows it describes a state of being where an action (withdrawal) is not possible. It indicates a lack of capacity, permission, or means to perform the action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

14%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unable to withdraw" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the impossibility of taking back or removing something. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability. It is frequently used in news, media, and scientific contexts, and maintains a neutral register suitable for various situations. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the inability and consider stronger synonyms like "prevented" or "prohibited" for more formal settings. Avoid confusing it with similar phrases like "reluctant to withdraw", which carries a different meaning. "Unable to withdraw" has a score of 4.1, demonstrating strong grammatical correctness and authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incapable of retracting

Replaces "unable" with "incapable" and "withdraw" with "retracting", emphasizing the lack of ability to take back something.

not able to retract

A more direct substitution, replacing "unable" with "not able" while retaining the core meaning.

prevented from withdrawing

Shifts the focus to an external force causing the inability to withdraw.

prohibited from taking back

Replaces "withdraw" with "taking back", suggesting a formal prohibition.

blocked from removing

Implies an obstruction preventing the removal of something.

denied the ability to retrieve

Formal phrasing emphasizing the lack of permission or capability to retrieve something.

without the power to revoke

Focuses on the lack of authority or control needed to revoke something.

forced to maintain possession

Highlights the lack of choice in retaining something, implying external compulsion.

not permitted to rescind

Emphasizes the lack of authorization to cancel or repeal something.

lacking the means to extract

Focuses on the absence of necessary resources or methods to extract something.

FAQs

How can I use "unable to withdraw" in a sentence?

You can use "unable to withdraw" to describe a situation where someone cannot take back something or remove funds from an account. For instance, "Due to a system error, I was unable to withdraw cash from the ATM."

What is a more formal alternative to "unable to withdraw"?

In more formal contexts, you might use phrases such as "prevented from withdrawing" or "prohibited from taking back" instead of "unable to withdraw".

Which is correct, "unable to withdraw" or "incapable to withdraw"?

"Unable to withdraw" is generally preferred. While "incapable of withdrawing" is also correct, "unable" is more common and concise.

What's the difference between "unable to withdraw" and "unwilling to withdraw"?

"Unable to withdraw" indicates a lack of ability or permission, while "unwilling to withdraw" means someone has the ability but doesn't want to do it.