retiring

[ri-tahyuhr-ing]

adjective

1. that retires.

2. withdrawing from contact with others; reserved; shy.

   Synonyms: timid, bashful, diffident

retiring

/ rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

1. shunning contact with others; shy; reserved

Other Word Forms

• retiringly adverb
• retiringness noun
• nonretiring adjective
• unretiring adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retiring¹

First recorded in 1540–50; retire + -ing ²

Example Sentences

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

Mayweather, who has won titles across five weight classes, has competed in a number of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 with his last outing coming against John Gotti III last August.

From BBC

Kershaw, meanwhile, settled down to get through five innings without any more damage, retiring 13 of his final 15 batters to put the Dodgers in position for a come-from-behind win.

From Los Angeles Times

The killer's mother, who also worked at the school before retiring, has not responded to law enforcement attempts to contact her.

From BBC

He’s also played by Cena, a retiring professional wrestler who embodies the white American male ideal – brawny, handsome, a good guy.

From Salon