retire

¹

[ri-tahyuhr]

verb (used without object)

retired, retiring 

1. to withdraw from one's career, occupation, or office, usually because of age.

   to retire at the age of sixty.

2. to withdraw, or go away or apart, to a place of privacy, shelter, or seclusion.

   He retired to his study.

3. to go to bed.

   He retired at midnight.

4. to fall back or retreat in an orderly fashion and according to plan, as from battle, an untenable position, danger, etc.

5. to withdraw or remove oneself.

   After announcing the guests, the butler retired.

   Synonyms: withdraw, leave

verb (used with object)

retired, retiring 

1. to withdraw from circulation by taking up and paying, as bonds, bills, etc.; redeem.

2. to withdraw or lead back (troops, ships, etc.), as from battle or danger; retreat.

3. to remove from active service or the usual field of activity, as an army officer or business executive.

4. to withdraw (a machine, ship, etc.) permanently from its normal service, usually for scrapping; take out of use.

5. Baseball, Cricket.,  to put out or end the offensive play of (a batter, runner, side, etc.).

   The pitcher’s on fire, retiring the last five hitters with strikeouts.

   With two runners stranded on base, the side is retired.

noun

Literary.

1. a place of withdrawal; retreat.

   a cool retire from summer's heat.

2. retirement or withdrawal, as from worldly matters or the company of others.

retiré

²

[ruh-tee-rey]

noun

Ballet.

plural

retirés 

1. a movement in which the dancer brings one foot to the knee of the supporting leg and then returns it to the fifth position.

retire

/ rɪˈtaɪə /

verb

1. (also tr) to give up or to cause (a person) to give up his work, a post, etc, esp on reaching pensionable age (in Britain and Australia usually 65 for men, 60 for women)

2. to go away, as into seclusion, for recuperation, etc

3. to go to bed

4. to recede or disappear

   the sun retired behind the clouds

5. to withdraw from a sporting contest, esp because of injury

6. (also tr) to pull back (troops, etc) from battle or an exposed position or (of troops, etc) to fall back

7. (tr)

   1. to remove (bills, bonds, shares, etc) from circulation by taking them up and paying for them

   2. to remove (money) from circulation

Other Word Forms

• retirer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of retire¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French retirer “to withdraw, pull back,” equivalent to re- re- + tirer “to draw”

Origin of retire²

< French, past participle of retirer to retire

Word History and Origins

Origin of retire¹

C16: from French retirer, from Old French _re- + tirer to pull, draw

Synonym Study

See depart.

Example Sentences

When the full-back was asked about childhood rugby heroes this week, she picked a player who retired a year after she was born.

From BBC

An infielder, Schaeffer hit .214 over six minor league seasons before retiring as a player to become a minor league manager in the Rockies system.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1976, Prince Edward retired from the Army, took on more royal duties and became vice-chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.

From BBC

Smith, who retired after a 22-year career in the Marines Corps, said one of the reasons he loved the community was the bonds built through outings and events.

From Los Angeles Times

Tyson, 59, is a former undisputed heavyweight champion while Mayweather, 48, retired undefeated after 50 fights, winning multiple titles across a number of weight classes.

From BBC

Related Words

• depart 
• go 
• pull out 
• relinquish 
• remove 
• retreat 
• separate 
• surrender 
• withdraw