How to pronounce retract
Say it like ree-TRAKT. Retract has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAKT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retract. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- TRAKT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retract pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- TRAKTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of retract
American and British speakers say retract in essentially the same way: /riˈtrækt/ in the US and /rɪˈtrækt/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TRAKT.
What does retract mean?
- To pull (something) back or back inside.“An airplane retracts its wheels for flight.”
- To draw (an extended body part) back into the body.“A cat can retract its claws.”
- To avert (one's eyes or a gaze).
Where does retract come from?
From Late Middle English retracten, retract (“to absorb, draw in”), from Latin retractus (“withdrawn”), the perfect passive participle of Latin retrahō (“to draw or pull back, withdraw; to bring back; to compel to turn back; to recall; to g
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with retract
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retract.
Questions about saying retract
How do you pronounce retract?
Say ree-TRAKT. The American pronunciation is /riˈtrækt/. In British English it is /rɪˈtrækt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retract?
Retract has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRAKT). Broken into parts: ree · TRAKT.
Do Americans and Brits say retract the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈtrækt/ and the British form is /rɪˈtrækt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.