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retroceder

reh-tro-seh-DEHR/retɾoseˈðeɾ/

“retroceder” means “to move back” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to move back, to back up

Also: to step back
VerbA2regular er
A small red car moving backward away from a stop line on a paved road.
gerundretrocediendo
past Participleretrocedido
infinitiveretroceder

📝 In Action

El coche tuvo que retroceder porque la calle era muy estrecha.

A2

The car had to back up because the street was very narrow.

Retrocedí unos pasos para ver mejor el cuadro.

B1

I stepped back a few paces to see the painting better.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • avanzar (to advance)
  • progresar (to progress)

Common Collocations

  • retroceder en el tiempo – to go back in time
  • hacer retroceder – to push back

to back down, to retreat

VerbB2regular er
A small goat walking backward away from a larger mountain lion.

📝 In Action

El gobierno no va a retroceder en su reforma educativa.

B2

The government is not going to back down on its education reform.

Ante las amenazas, el equipo decidió retroceder.

B2

Faced with threats, the team decided to retreat.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ceder (to give in)
  • desistir (to desist)

Antonyms

  • insistir (to insist)
  • persistir (to persist)

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrocedieran
yoretrocediera
túretrocedieras
vosotrosretrocedierais
nosotrosretrocediéramos
él/ella/ustedretrocediera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrocedan
yoretroceda
túretrocedas
vosotrosretrocedáis
nosotrosretrocedamos
él/ella/ustedretroceda

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrocedieron
yoretrocedí
túretrocediste
vosotrosretrocedisteis
nosotrosretrocedimos
él/ella/ustedretrocedió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretrocedían
yoretrocedía
túretrocedías
vosotrosretrocedíais
nosotrosretrocedíamos
él/ella/ustedretrocedía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretroceden
yoretrocedo
túretrocedes
vosotrosretrocedéis
nosotrosretrocedemos
él/ella/ustedretrocede
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "retroceder" in Spanish:

to retreat→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retroceder

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence best uses 'retroceder' to mean 'to back up a car'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
retroceso(setback / retreat) — Noun
retroactivo(retroactive) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'retrocedere', which combines 'retro' (backwards) and 'cedere' (to go or yield).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: recedeFrench: rétrograder

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'retroceder' irregular?

No, it is a perfectly regular -er verb. It follows the same patterns as 'comer' or 'beber'.

Can I use 'retroceder' for a video?

Yes! You can say 'retrocede el video' to mean 'rewind the video'.