What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
retreating
Example
The soldiers were retreating from the battlefield. [retreating: verb]
Example
She was retreating from the argument to avoid further conflict. [retreating: present participle]
retrograde
Example
The company's profits were in retrograde due to poor management. [retrograde: adjective]
Example
The project was retrograding due to lack of funding. [retrograding: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Retreating is less common than retrograde in everyday language. Retreating is often used in military or conflict-related contexts, while retrograde is more versatile and can be used in various fields.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between retreating and retrograde?
Retrograde is generally considered more formal than retreating. Retrograde is often used in technical or scientific contexts, while retreating is more commonly used in informal or conversational contexts.