What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Retreat vs Resign - What's the difference?

retreat | resign |

As verbs the difference between retreat and resign

is that retreat is to withdraw military forces while resign is to give up or hand over (something to someone); to relinquish ownership of or resign can be (proscribed).

As a noun retreat

is the act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.

retreat

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant.
  • * Shakespeare
  • In a retreat he outruns any lackey.
  • The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position.
  • A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security.
  • * L'Estrange
  • He built his son a house of pleasure, and spared no cost to make a delicious retreat .
  • * Dryden
  • That pleasing shade they sought, a soft retreat / From sudden April showers, a shelter from the heat.
  • A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude.
  • A period of meditation, prayer or study.
  • Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack.
  • A signal for a military withdrawal.
  • A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base.
  • A military ceremony to lower the flag.
  • (chess) The move of a piece from a threatened position.
  • See also

    * religious retreat

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To withdraw military forces.
  • Anagrams

    * *

    resign

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) reisgner, (etyl) resigner, and its source, (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give up or hand over (something to someone); to relinquish ownership of.
  • * , I.39:
  • And if the perfection of well-speaking might bring any glorie sutable unto a great personage, Scipio'' and ''Lelius would never have resigned the honour of their Comedies.
  • (transitive, or, intransitive) To quit (a job or position).
  • I am resigning in protest of the unfair treatment of our employees.
    He resigned the crown to follow his heart.
  • (transitive, or, intransitive) To submit passively; to give up as hopeless or inevitable.
  • After fighting for so long, she finally resigned to her death.
    He had no choice but to resign the game and let his opponent become the champion.
  • * 1996 , Robin Buss, The Count of Monte Cristo'', translation of, edition, ISBN 0140449264, page 394 [http://books.google.com/books?id=QAa5l_8DNbcC&pg=PA394&dq=fate]:
  • Here is a man who was resigned' to his fate, who was walking to the scaffold and about to die like a coward, that's true, but at least he was about to die without resisting and without recrimination. Do you know what gave him that much strength? Do you know what consoled him? Do you know what ' resigned him to his fate?
    Synonyms
    * quit
    Derived terms
    * resignation * resign oneself

    Etymology 2

    (re-) + (sign)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (proscribed)
  • Usage notes

    The spelling without the hyphen results in a heteronym and is usually avoided.

    Anagrams

    * reigns * signer * singer English contranyms English heteronyms