retiring

American  

[ri-tahyuhr-ing] / rɪˈtaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. that retires.

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

   Synonyms:

   timid, bashful, diffident

---

retiring British  

/ rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

1. shunning contact with others; shy; reserved

---

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of retiring

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

Explanation

If you are a retiring person, you avoid being at the center of attention. You can often be found in the library and other quiet places, and if someone compliments you, you're likely to blush and change the subject. If you call someone retiring, it isn't necessarily clear whether you mean it as a compliment or something closer to a put-down. Usually, the word is used to describe someone who is shy or modest to a fault. But it can also be used to suggest that someone isn't arrogant, which is usually a good thing. And, of course, retiring can also refer to someone who stepped down from their last job and doesn't intend to work anymore.

Example Sentences

Someone retiring in 15 or 20 years has an even longer horizon to consider.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

That is because changing demographics, such as retiring baby boomers and tight immigration policies, will continue to keep a lid on the number of workers looking for work.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

“When I know, you guys will know,” James said in February, of the possibility of retiring from the league where he has spent more than half his life.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Yuen had moved to London within days of retiring from the Hong Kong Police Force in 2015 to join his wife and two children, taking advantage of his dual British-Hong Kong citizenship.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

She was two years past the retiring age, but in fact no animal had ever actually retired.

From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell