What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retract
Example
He had to retract his statement after realizing it was false. [retract: verb]
Example
The cat retracted its claws after playing with the toy. [retracted: past tense]
revoke
Example
The government decided to revoke the license of the company due to safety violations. [revoke: verb]
Example
The teacher revoked the student's privileges for misbehaving in class. [revoked: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retract is more commonly used than revoke in everyday language. Retract is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while revoke is less common and refers to a more formal and official action.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between retract and revoke?
Revoke is more formal than retract and is often used in legal or official contexts. Retract is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.