Meaning
retreat
- The act of an army withdrawing from combat
- A general withdrawal or strategic backing down from a position
In a sentence
Il generale ordinò la ritirata per evitare perdite maggiori.
The general ordered the retreat to avoid greater losses.
Davanti a quelle accuse infondate, l'avversario ha battuto in ritirata.
Faced with those unfounded accusations, the opponent beat a retreat.
La ritirata delle truppe non è stata considerata una sconfitta definitiva.
The retreat of the troops was not considered a definitive defeat.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| ritirata | feminine · singular |
| ritirate | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- Often heard in the fixed idiom 'battere in ritirata' (to beat a retreat / back away).