retreatre·treat1 /rɪˈtriːt/ verb [intransitiveI]1journalismFINANCE if shares etc retreat, their value falls to a lower levelIn Frankfurt, share prices retreated as the market consolidated recent gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 10.07 points to 11,199.46.
2to decide not to continue with a plan, idea, agreement etc because it is too difficult or no longer worth doingJapanese buyers have retreated after paying huge prices for U.S. properties in the past.
retreat fromLast week it became the latest corporate raider to retreat from a takeover contest.