revoke or cancel (an order). \\"an order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded\\". synonyms: revoke, rescind, reverse, undo, repeal, retract, withdraw, take back, abrogate, abolish, quash, scrap, override, overturn, overrule, do away with, set aside, cancel, annul, invalidate, nullify, negate, veto, declare null and void; back-pedal on, backtrack on, do a U-turn on; disaffirm, discharge, avoid, vacate, vitiate; informalaxe, ditch, dump, knock on the head; recall; disannul. Definition of Countermand to change or retract a command Examples of Countermand in a sentence Since the bank robbers have hostages, the police chief decided to countermand the order to storm the building. Jane hoped her father would countermand her curfew and allow her to stay out past midnight for the homecoming dance. After learning his troops would be outnumbered in battle, the colonel elected to countermand the order and return to camp. The government\\'s decision to countermand prohibition made alcohol drinkers very happy. Because my mother is afraid of my father, she will never countermand one of his rules. The appeals court chose to countermand the lower\\'s court guilty verdict.