Cool MateI take it back vs Withdraw
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I take it back
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Withdraw
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Withdraw
| I take it back | Withdraw | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ teɪk ɪt bæk//🇺🇸 //aɪ teɪk ɪt bæk// | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To say you no longer agree with something you said. | To take back or remove something. |
| Example | After thinking it over, I take it back; that comment was unfair. | She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | take it back after an argument, take it back sincerely, take it back as an apology | altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into |
| Antonyms | - | deposit, add, contribute |
| Common mistakes | Confusing this with 'I take it forward' which has a different meaning., Using it when you don't actually want to retract a statement., Saying 'I take back it' instead of 'I take it back'. | Confused with 'wither' — remember, 'withdraw' is about taking away., Using 'withdraw' with an incorrect subject; you withdraw something, not 'withdraws'., 'Withdrew' is the past tense, but learners often forget the 'd'. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase when you want to retract or apologize for a previous statement. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but be mindful that it can indicate you realized you were wrong. | Use 'withdraw' when you want to say you are taking something away or not participating anymore. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts, like withdrawing money from a bank or withdrawing from a competition. |
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Frequently asked questions: I take it back vs Withdraw
What's the difference between I take it back and Withdraw?
I take it back: To say you no longer agree with something you said. Withdraw: To take back or remove something.
Which is more common: I take it back and Withdraw?
Withdraw is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I take it back: After thinking it over, I take it back; that comment was unfair. Withdraw: She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank.
Can I use I take it back and Withdraw interchangeably?
Not always. I take it back and Withdraw are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.