retiring

American  

[ri-tahyuhr-ing] / rɪˈtaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. that retires.

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

   Synonyms:

   timid, bashful, diffident

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retiring British  

/ rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

1. shunning contact with others; shy; reserved

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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

I want to get a cake for one of my college friends — we’ve been friends for 40 years — who is retiring from teaching kindergarten.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Narvekar hasn’t set a definitive date for his departure but has discussed with the board possibly retiring in late 2027 in order to give them ample time to plan his succession, according to the people.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

He was a postmaster for 30 years and went on to be a local councillor before retiring in 2013.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

Instead of coming back from Oxford after those twelve weeks, she’d stayed on to do a summer course, explaining that a professor she admired would be retiring after that.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri