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retire

USri-TYR/ɹəˈtaɪɹ/UKri-TY-uh/ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/

Formsretires, retiring, retired

16 meanings of retire

Practice

  1. 1
    verbintransitive
    To stop working for good, usually because you are old or unwell.

    Like closing a shop for the last time and never opening it again.

    My grandfather plans to retire next year when he turns sixty-five.

    She retired early after saving enough money.

  2. 2
    verbintransitive
    To stop playing a sport for good as a professional player.

    Like leaving the team for good when your playing days are over.

    The tennis star decided to retire after her final match.

    He retired from professional soccer at thirty-five.

    Similarquit

    Note
  3. 3
    verbintransitive
    To go to bed at the end of the day.

    I usually retire around ten o'clock.

    The guests retired soon after dinner.

    Oppositerise

  4. 4
    verbintransitive
    To move away from others into a private or quiet place.

    After the speech, the president chose to retire to his study.

    She retired to the garden to be alone.

    Similarwithdraw, retreat

  5. 5
    verbtransitive
    To stop using or making something for good.

    Like throwing away an old phone you will never use again.

    The company decided to retire the old software.

    They retired the model after ten years.

    Similardecommission, discontinue, scrap

    Note
  6. 6
    verbintransitive
    To move back from danger, or to go somewhere safer and calmer.

    The troops were ordered to retire behind the ridge.

    They retired to the cabin for a peaceful weekend.

    Similarretreat, withdraw

    Oppositeadvance

  7. 7
    verbtransitive
    To officially declare someone no longer fit for active duty or work.

    The navy retired the aging officer after his injury.

    They plan to retire him from active service next month.

    Note
  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To take money or bonds out of use by paying them off.

    The government plans to retire the old banknotes.

    The firm retired its debt ahead of schedule.

    Similarredeem

    Oppositeissue

  9. 9
    verbreflexivetransitive
    To take something away or move it back.

    The waiter came to retire the empty plates.

    She retired her hand from the flame.

    Similarwithdraw, remove

    Note
  10. 10
    verbtransitive
    In baseball, to get a batter or runner out.

    The pitcher managed to retire the side in order.

    She retired the first three batters she faced.

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–13, 15–16

From French retirer meaning "draw back," made from re- ("back") and tirer ("pull").

Meaning 14

From re- plus tire.