retract

/ɹɪˈtɹækt/

//ɹɪˈtɹækt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"retract" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“retract” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,994 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#27,994
frequency rank, English
7
letters
11
tracked misspellings
5
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To pull (something) back or back inside.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

retract vs retreat
71% similar
retract vs retracted
78% similar
retract vs react
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for retract
PropertyValue
Headwordretract
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹɪˈtɹækt/
Letters7
Frequency rank#27,994
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs5
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “retract” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). retract lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for retract is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈtɹækt/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,994 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for retract, with forms such as "ertract", "rertact", and "retarct". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 5 confusable-pair relationships, "retreat", "retracted", "react", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover;… The correct English form is retract, spelled R-E-T-R-A-C-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    To pull (something) back or back inside.
  2. 2
    To pull (something) back or back inside.
  3. 3
    To avert (one's eyes or a gaze).
  4. 4
    To pronounce (a sound, especially a vowel) farther to the back of the vocal tract.
  5. 5
    To hold back (something); to restrain.
  6. 6
    To draw back; to draw up; to withdraw.

Etymology

From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back, recover; to hold back, restrain, withhold; to remove, take away; to bring to light again; (Late Latin) to delay”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + trahō (“to drag, pull; to extract, withdraw”). Doublet of retreat.

This word in other languages

retraer(Español)rétracter(Français)retrair(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ertract,rertact,retarct,retracct,retractt,retratc,retrcat,retrract,rettract,rretract,rteract

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of retract - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

ertract2rertact2retarct2retracct1retractt1retratc2retrcat2retrract1
Edit distance from "retract"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "retract"?
"retract" is spelled R-E-T-R-A-C-T. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹɪˈtɹækt/.
What does "retract" mean?
As a verb, "retract" means: To pull (something) back or back inside.
What words are commonly confused with "retract"?
"retract" is commonly confused with "retreat", "retracted", "react". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "retract"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retract" is /ɹɪˈtɹækt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "retract"?
From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to get back... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “retract”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-T-R-A-C-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹɪˈtɹækt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “retreat” - see the side-by-side comparison. retract vs retreat
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list