withdrawal
with-DRAW-uhl
/wɪðˈdrɔːəl/
The act of taking money out of a bank account; also, the amount of money taken out.
Can also refer to the act of removing something or someone, or the process of ceasing to take a drug.
The story behind the word. The word 'withdrawal' is a combination of 'with-' (meaning 'away' or 'back') and 'draw' (from Old English 'dragan', meaning 'to pull'). So, literally, it means 'to pull away' or 'to pull back' money from an account.
Word relationships
- debit: A debit is an entry recording an amount owed or taken from an account; a withdrawal is the physical act of taking money out.
- retrieval: Retrieval is a more general term for getting something back; withdrawal is specific to taking money from an account.
- deposit: Deposit is putting money in; withdrawal is taking money out.
Word family
- withdraw (verb): to take money out of an account; to remove something.
Collocations
- cash withdrawal
- bank withdrawal
- make a withdrawal
- withdrawal limit
Example sentences
- "He made a cash withdrawal from the ATM before heading to the market." Taking money from an ATM.
- "The country announced its withdrawal from the international treaty." A country's withdrawal from an agreement.
Memory hook
When you WITHDRAW, you DRAW money WITH you, away from the bank. DRAW WITH you
When not to use
Do not use 'withdrawal' when referring to a simple payment or transfer that doesn't involve taking money out of an account.
Fun facts
- The verb 'withdraw' can also mean to retract a statement or to remove oneself from a situation.
Related words
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