1 : movement by soldiers away from an enemy because the enemy is winning or has won a battle [noncount] ▪ The forces are now in (full) retreat. [count] ▪ The army passed through the town on/during its retreat (from the battlefield). ▪ He sounded/signaled the retreat. [=made the signal telling soldiers to begin a retreat] 2 [count, noncount] : movement away from a place or situation especially because it is dangerous, unpleasant, etc.
▪ Some of her friends were surprised by her retreat from public life following her defeat in the election. ▪ He made/beat a hasty retreat [=he left quickly] when he realized he had entered the wrong office. 3 [count] : the act of changing your opinion or position on something because it is unpopular — usually singular ▪ The mayor was forced to make a retreat from his earlier position. 4 : the act or process of moving away [count] — usually singular ▪ Scientists continue to measure the slow retreat of the glacier. ▪ the retreat of the floodwaters [noncount] ▪ Studies show the glaciers are in retreat. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ Her political influence has been in retreat since the scandal. 5 a [count] : a place that is quiet and private
▪ She went to her mountain retreat for a quiet weekend. ▪ an idyllic/island/isolated retreat
b : a trip to a place where you can quietly pray, think, study, etc. [count] ▪ We went on a corporate/spiritual retreat. ▪ The church offers retreats several times a year. [noncount] ▪ She went on retreat for several weeks last year.