Cool MateTake that back vs Withdraw
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Take that back
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Withdraw
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most formal: WithdrawMost common: Withdraw
| Take that back | Withdraw | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //teɪk ðæt bæk//🇺🇸 //teɪk ðæt 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 didn’t mean something you said before. | To take back or remove something. |
| Example | I regret what I said; I want to take that back. | She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | take it back, want to take that back, take back my words | 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 with 'take it back' as a physical action., Using it in formal writing., Not using it when necessary to retract a hurtful statement. | 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 in casual conversation when retracting a previous statement. It may not be suitable in formal contexts. | 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: Take that back vs Withdraw
What's the difference between Take that back and Withdraw?
Take that back: To say you didn’t mean something you said before. Withdraw: To take back or remove something.
Which is more formal: Take that back and Withdraw?
Withdraw is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Take that back and Withdraw?
Withdraw is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Take that back: I regret what I said; I want to take that back. Withdraw: She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank.
Can I use Take that back and Withdraw interchangeably?
Not always. Take that 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.