Synonyms

retiring

American

[ri-tahyuhr-ing] / rɪˈtaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

that retires.
withdrawing from contact with others; reserved; shy.

Synonyms:

timid, bashful, diffident

retiring British

/ rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

shunning contact with others; shy; reserved

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

nonretiring adjective
retiringly adverb
retiringness noun
unretiring adjective

Etymology

Origin of retiring

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despite briefly retiring at 70, it wasn't long before he returned to the lollipop at Sale High School, where he has been working ever since - for more than 17 years.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement on social media that George "will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately".

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

In skilled trades, retiring workers are driving a lot of the demand, while the aging population is driving more demand for eldercare.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

As part of retirement planning, healthcare expenses continue to rise; a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 could expect to spend an average of $172,500 on healthcare expenses throughout their retirement, according to Fidelity Investments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Still, the incident had lamentably put off his retiring time, which was ordinarily eleven o’clock.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023