retire
verbnounverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɹɪˈtaɪə//
- United States//ɹəˈtaɪɹ//
- United States//ɹiˈtaɪɚ//
To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
verb
- 1
To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
Having made a large fortune, he retired.
He wants to retire at 55.
She decided to retire from her banking job due to stress.
Green will never forget "that was the day I retired - the absolute crowning event of my life and I was very proud of that.
- 2
To stop playing their sport and in competitions a sports player.
I have decided to retire from football at the end of the season after the World Cup.
I have decided to retire from test cricket at 45.
- 3
To withdraw; to take away.
He […] retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.
As when the sun is present all the year, / And never doth retire his golden ray.
- 4
To cease use or production of something.
The steamship made thousands of trips over several decades before it was retired by the shipping company.
When a hurricane becomes so deadly or destructive that future use would be insensitive, officials may retire the name of the hurricane.
Only now, due to the COVID-19-associated drop in traffic, are they being retired with 12 of the 30 trains moved to Landore (Swansea) for warm storage.
- 5
To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay.
The central bank retired those notes five years ago.
- 6
To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list.
The board retired the old major.
By the time I first spoke to Magana in late 2022, 25/7 Media’s success had given him some measure of financial security. “The truth is that I just retired my parents,” he told me two days after Christmas.
- 7
To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat.
Jones retired in favour of Smith.
- 8
To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout. Also, when such an event ends a team's turn at bat.
Jones retired Smith 6-3.
Jones makes the catch for the third out, and that retires the side.
- 9
To go back or return; to withdraw or retreat, especially from public view; to go into privacy.
I will retire to the study.
to retire from the world
to retire from the public eye
- 10
To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure.
to retire from battle
The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed.
- 11
To recede; to fall or bend back.
Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves.
- 12
To go to bed.
I will retire for the night.
In the daytime the beds are made up but completely out of sight, giving the passenger a comfortable little private room; as the time for retiring comes, after preparing for rest in the same spacious conditions, he is able, practically at a touch, to pull the bed into position ready for use.
Etymology
From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin.
noun
- 1
rareThe act of retiring, or the state of being retired.
- 2
A place to which one retires.
- 3
datedA call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
At the retire, the cavalry fell back.
verb
- 1
To fit (a vehicle) with new tires.
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re-der. Old French re-bor. Middle English re- English re- Middle English tiren English tire English retire From re- + tire.
Forms
- plural
- retires
- past tense
- retired
- past participle
- retired
- present participle
- retiring
- third person singular
- retires
retire · To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
retired · Secluded from society (of a lifestyle, activity etc.);…retirement · An act of retiring; withdrawal.retiring · introverted, liking privacy and seclusion.