What is the meaning of retreating?

verb

• Pull back or move away or backward.
  • usage: "The enemy withdrew"; "The limo pulled away from the curb"
  • synonyms: withdraw, retreat, pull away, draw back, recede, pull back, retire, move back
• Move away, as for privacy.
  • usage: "The Pope retreats to Castelgondolfo every summer"
  • synonyms: retreat
• Move back.
  • usage: "The glacier retrogrades"
  • synonyms: retrograde, retreat
• Make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity.
  • usage: "We'll have to crawfish out from meeting with him"; "He backed out of his earlier promise"; "The aggressive investment company pulled in its horns"
  • synonyms: retreat, pull back, back out, back away, crawfish, crawfish out, pull in one's horns, withdraw