retire
to withdraw from one's career, occupation, or office, usually because of age: to retire at the age of sixty.
to withdraw, or go away or apart, to a place of privacy, shelter, or seclusion: He retired to his study.
to go to bed: He retired at midnight.
to fall back or retreat in an orderly fashion and according to plan, as from battle, an untenable position, danger, etc.
to withdraw or remove oneself: After announcing the guests, the butler retired.
to withdraw from circulation by taking up and paying, as bonds, bills, etc.; redeem.
to withdraw or lead back (troops, ships, etc.), as from battle or danger; retreat.
to remove from active service or the usual field of activity, as an army officer or business executive.
to withdraw (a machine, ship, etc.) permanently from its normal service, usually for scrapping; take out of use.
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.
a place of withdrawal; retreat: a cool retire from summer's heat.
retirement or withdrawal, as from worldly matters or the company of others.
Origin of retire
1synonym study For retire
Other words for retire
Other words from retire
- re·tir·er, noun
Words Nearby retire
Other definitions for retiré (2 of 2)
a movement in which the dancer brings one foot to the knee of the supporting leg and then returns it to the fifth position.
Origin of retiré
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use retire in a sentence
Expect the couple to find another mansion in a safe Democratic district where an aging representative is expected to retire.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple | James Kirchick | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd when asked whether he worries about Studio Ghibli after he and Takahata retire, Miyazaki is frank.
Age is one of many factors, but it will play a larger role in the conversation as Baby Boomers retire and longevity is extended.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Risky Heart Surgery | Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs Raimondo tells it, most public sector workers in the state were able to retire at age 55 with 80 percent of their pay.
Meet Gina Raimondo, the Only Democratic Star of 2014 | David Freedlander | November 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut “he was so shocked by the disorganization and lack of seriousness that he submitted his papers to retire.”
Will the new issues promptly retire when their special task is over?
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur PhillipsThe unhappy applicant was naturally obliged to temporarily retire from the game, at all events for that night.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsA lineman was sent out to repair it under escort of civil guards, who were forced by the rebels to retire.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman“I understood, Baron, that you had quite made up your mind to retire within a very few weeks,” said David Arden.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu"Perhaps you will not care to retire, and would rather sit out where the air is best," she suggested.
The Homesteader | Oscar Micheaux
British Dictionary definitions for retire
/ (rɪˈtaɪə) /
(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)
to go away, as into seclusion, for recuperation, etc
to go to bed
to recede or disappear: the sun retired behind the clouds
to withdraw from a sporting contest, esp because of injury
(also tr) to pull back (troops, etc) from battle or an exposed position or (of troops, etc) to fall back
(tr)
to remove (bills, bonds, shares, etc) from circulation by taking them up and paying for them
to remove (money) from circulation
Origin of retire
1Derived forms of retire
- retirer, noun
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
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