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

Example Sentences

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

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell later posted a statement on X that said George "will be retiring from his position... effective immediately," without specifying a reason.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

But McKenzie has continued to argue after retiring from the military that this isn’t enough.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

After retiring in 2024, Daley became a regular face across British television with appearances on Celebrity Bake Off, Celebrity Traitors and Celebrity Gogglebox.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Unfortunately, he died before he could conduct the experiments and both the idea and the necessary equipment were passed on to a brilliant but magnificently retiring London scientist named Henry Cavendish.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson