retreating

(verb) pull back or move away or backward. Synonyms: withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back. Examples: "The enemy withdrew." "The limo pulled away from the curb."

(verb) move away, as for privacy. Synonyms: retreat. Example: "The pope retreats to castelgondolfo every summer."

(verb) move back. Synonyms: retrograde, retreat. Example: "The glacier retrogrades."

(verb) make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity. Synonyms: retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw. Examples: "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him." "He backed out of his earlier promise." "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns."