But fortunately the rain stopped and the water retreated.

By now, the water, which had been more than six feet deep in the buildings, has retreated.

The water ran beyond them that time and then retreated again.

At first, I was relieved, because the water was retreating.

But the water did not retreat until early afternoon.

They watched with fascination as the water retreated to the opposite hatch.

As the water retreated, these objects were then dragged back towards the sound.

Scummy white foam laced the sand as the water retreated.

When the water had retreated, it had left behind two more words.

The water has retreated from the village green, but the river is still raging-and people's yards are full of the refuse it left behind.