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Retreat vs Surrender - What's the difference?

retreat | surrender |

As nouns the difference between retreat and surrender

is that retreat is the act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant while surrender is an act of surrendering, submission into the possession of another; abandonment, resignation.

As verbs the difference between retreat and surrender

is that retreat is to withdraw military forces while surrender is to give up into the power, control, or possession of another; specifically (military) to yield (a town, a fortification, etc) to an enemy.

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

    * *

    surrender

    English

    Alternative forms

    * surrendre (archaic)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give up into the power, control, or possession of another; specifically (military) to yield (a town, a fortification, etc.) to an enemy.
  • (intransitive, or, reflexive) To give oneself up into the power of another, especially as a prisoner; to submit or give in.
  • I surrender !
  • To give up possession of; to yield; to resign.
  • to surrender a right, privilege, or advantage
  • (reflexive) To yield (oneself) to an influence, emotion, passion, etc.
  • ''to surrender oneself to grief, to despair, to indolence, or to sleep
  • To abandon (one's hand of cards) and recover half of the initial bet.
  • Synonyms

    * (l), (l) * wave the white flag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of surrendering, submission into the possession of another; abandonment, resignation.
  • The yielding or delivery of a possession in response to a demand.
  • (legal, property law) The yielding of the leasehold estate by the lessee to the landlord, so that the tenancy for years merges in the reversion and no longer exists.
  • Synonyms

    * capitulation