DRAW BACK

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Use a surgical instrument to hold open (the edges of a wound or an organ)

Synonyms:

draw back; pull back; retract

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "draw back" is one way to...):

pull (apply force so as to cause motion towards the source of the motion)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pull back or move away or backward

Example:

The limo pulled away from the curb

Synonyms:

draw back; move back; pull away; pull back; recede; retire; retreat; withdraw

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "draw back" is one way to...):

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Verb group:

back away; back out; crawfish; crawfish out; pull back; pull in one's horns; retreat; withdraw (make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "draw back"):

fall back (move back and away from)

retreat; retrograde (move back)

back down; back off; back up (move backwards from a certain position)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Credits

Context examples:

Then our promise shall be made to each other anew; for there is a terrible task before us, and once our feet are on the ploughshare we must not draw back.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mr. Elton was speaking with animation, Harriet listening with a very pleased attention; and Emma, having sent the child on, was beginning to think how she might draw back a little more, when they both looked around, and she was obliged to join them.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Nay (seeing her draw back displeased), forgive me.