retire

re·tire

verb \ri-ˈtī(-ə)r\

re·tiredre·tir·ing

Definition of RETIRE

intransitive verb

1

: to withdraw from action or danger : retreat

2

: to withdraw especially for privacy <retired to her room>

3

: to move back : recede

4

: to withdraw from one's position or occupation : conclude one's working or professional career

5

: to go to bed

transitive verb

1

: withdraw: as

a : to march (a military force) away from the enemy

b : to withdraw from circulation or from the market : recall <retire a bond>

c : to withdraw from usual use or service

2

: to cause to retire from one's position or occupation

3

a : to put out (a batter or batsman) in baseball or cricket

b : to cause (a side) to end a turn at bat in baseball

4

: to win permanent possession of (as a trophy)

5

: to pay in full : settle <retire a debt>

Examples of RETIRE

1. I want to be healthy when I retire.
2. She had to retire during the first set because of a muscle strain.
3. The Navy is retiring the old battleship.
4. The manufacturer plans to retire that car model in a few years.
5. The team is retiring his jersey number in honor of his great career.

Origin of RETIRE

Middle French retirer, from re- + tirer to draw

First Known Use: 1533

Related to RETIRE

Synonyms

crash [slang], doss (down) [chiefly British], bed, turn in

Antonyms

arise, get up, rise, uprise

Related Words

bunk, perch, roost, settle; doze, drop off, nap, nod, sleep, slumber, snooze; couch, lie (down), recline

Near Antonyms

arouse, awake, awaken, rouse, wake, waken; bestir, stir; reawake, reawaken; shift, stir

Rhymes with RETIRE

attire, backfire, bemire, catch fire, cross fire, denier, desire, entire, for hire, fox fire, Greek fire, grey friar, hang fire, hellfire, live wire, on fire, prior, rimfire, sapphire, sea fire, snow tire, town crier, trip wire, umpire, watch fire, white friar