retreat vs withdraw

retreat

verb
  • To withdraw from a position, go back. 

  • To slope back. 

  • To withdraw military forces 

  • To shrink back due to generally warmer temperatures. 

  • a retreating forehead 

noun
  • A peaceful, quiet place affording privacy or security. 

  • The act of reversing direction and receding from a forward position. 

  • A bugle call or drumbeat signaling the lowering of the flag at sunset, as on a military base. 

  • A military ceremony to lower the flag. 

  • The move of a piece from a threatened position. 

  • A period of retirement, seclusion, or solitude. 

  • A period of meditation, prayer or study. 

  • The act of pulling back or withdrawing, as from something dangerous, or unpleasant. 

  • A signal for a military withdrawal. 

  • Withdrawal by military force from a dangerous position or from enemy attack. 

withdraw

verb
  • To take back (a comment, something written, etc.); to recant, to retract. 

  • To take away or take back (something previously given or permitted); to remove, to retract. 

  • To remove (someone or (reflexive, archaic) oneself) from a position or situation; specifically (military), to remove (soldiers) from a battle or position where they are stationed. 

  • To distract or divert (someone) from a course of action, a goal, etc. 

  • To cause or help (someone) to stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to dry out. 

  • To take (one's eyes) off something; to look away. 

  • To draw or pull (something) away or back from its original position or situation. 

  • To stop talking to or interacting with other people and start thinking thoughts not related to what is happening. 

  • To remove (a topic) from discussion or inquiry. 

  • Of soldiers: to leave a battle or position where they are stationed; to retreat. 

  • To extract (money) from a bank account or other financial deposit. 

  • Of a man: to remove the penis from a partner's body orifice before ejaculation; to engage in coitus interruptus. 

  • To disregard (something) as belonging to a certain group. 

  • To stop taking an addictive drug or substance; to undergo withdrawal. 

  • To stop (a course of action, proceedings, etc.) 

  • Chiefly followed by from: to leave a place, someone's presence, etc., to go to another room or place. 

  • Chiefly followed by from: to stop taking part in some activity; also, to remove oneself from the company of others, from publicity, etc. 

How often have the words retreat and withdraw occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )