retire
verb (used without object)
to withdraw from one's career, occupation, or office, usually because of age.
were retiring
-
past progressiveof retire.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Then, Aardman Animations got word that its clay manufacturers were retiring.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
The agency also noted that people were retiring later in Germany, which has a population of almost 84 million, as the statutory retirement age rises gradually to 67 by 2029.
From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026
He and Keith Earls, who didn’t play, were retiring.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 14, 2023
The owners of the Five and Dime Antique Mall, which occupied most of the space, were retiring.
From New York Times ● Dec. 11, 2021
I followed him down to the parlor, where we kindled a fire for the ease of the academicians, who were retiring from the experimental chamber.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
