(1) ①recede表示从观察者/说话者的位置或先前的位置“后退”或显得“后退”(而实际并未移动)，“离得越来越远”，“逐渐消失”。

• As the tide receded , we were able to explore the rocky pools on the beach.
  潮水退后，我们就在海滩上岩石的水洼里探寻。
• As our ship sailed out to sea, the coast slowly receded .
  当我们的船驶向大海时，海岸渐渐地向后退去。
• Houses and trees seem to recede as you ride past in a car.
  当你乘车前行时，房子和树好像都在后退。

②recede可用于引喻场合，表示“逐渐消失；记不清”。

• As the months passed, memories of my middle school days are gradually receding .
  随着岁月的流逝，我对中学时代的记忆逐渐地淡漠了。
• How can you recede from your promise?
  你怎能收回诺言呢？

(2) ①retreat表示“撤退，退却，后退”，通常用于军队，也可用于其他场合，多表示被迫的、不情愿的。

• The enemy were/was forced to retreat after heavy losses.
  敌人在蒙受重大损失后被迫撤退。
• Seeing the big dog, the tramp retreated rapidly.
  看见那只大狗，流浪汉迅速地向后退却。
• The soldiers were ordered to retreat to safer positions behind the lines.
  士兵们奉命向战线后方较安全的阵地撤退。

②retreat可用于引申意义，表示“回到(僻静之处)；逃避(现实等)”。

• After a week's work, I like to retreat to the country to relax.
  工作一周后，我想到乡下放松一下。
• You shouldn't retreat from your responsibilities in this affair.
  你不应当回避在这一事件中的责任。

(3) ①withdraw表示“(使)撤退，退出，脱离，向后退，撤出，移开”。

• We decided to withdraw our troops from the exposed position.
  我们决定让军队从没有掩护的阵地撤退。
• Unconsciously, she withdrew her hand from his.
  她无意识地把手从他的手上移开。
• After being attacked, the army withdrew .
  受到攻击后，这支军队撤退了。
• He withdrew his son from that unsuitable school.
  他让儿子从那所不合适的学校里退出来了。
• She withdrew against the wall as the car passed close by.
  当那辆汽车紧挨着从她身边驶过时，她后退到墙根处。

②withdraw还可表示“退出(比赛、机构等)”。

• He fell violently and hurt himself, so he had to withdraw from the race.
  他重重地摔倒了，受了伤，于是不得不退出赛跑比赛。

③withdraw也表示“回到……；离去”。

• The waitress withdrew after serving the meal.
  女服务员把饭端来后就离开了。
• After dinner, she withdrew to her own room.
  饭后，她回到了自己的房间。
• Mary hates parties and always looks for a chance to withdraw into herself and not speak to people.
  玛丽讨厌聚会，总是寻机会独处，不跟人讲话。

④withdraw还作“取回，收回(话语、支持)”解。

• I'm going to the bank to withdraw some money.
  我要去银行取一些钱。
• I'd like to withdraw $1,200 from my savings account and put it in my cheque account.
  我想从储蓄账户上取出1200美元存入支票账户。

⑤其他如：to withdraw the remark/one's consent/offer/criticism/charges against sb./support for sth./one's name from a list等。

(4) retire 除表示“使退休(vt.)，退休(vi.)”以外，也表示从某一场所“退离”，“回房(睡觉)”，“(军队)后撤”。

• Immediately after dinner, he retired to bed, but he did not sleep.
  一吃过饭，他就上了床，但并没睡着。
• You must retire early today as you have to catch the early train tomorrow.
  你今天必须早些回房休息，因为你明天得赶早班火车。
• Our troops retired to prepared positions behind the river line to form themselves into new groups before attacking again.
  我军后撤到河岸线后面事先准备好的阵地，在再次发动攻击之前重新集结起来。