retire

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verb re·tire \ ri-ˈtī(-ə)r \

Definition of retire

retired; retiring

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: such 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) in baseball

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

4 :to win permanent possession of (something, such as a trophy)

5 :to pay in full :settle

retire a debt

See retire defined for English-language learners

See retire defined for kids

Examples of retire in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of retire from the Web

Thomas, a Georgia native, is listed at 6 feet 8 inches, 210 pounds. * Darius Perry (2) will wear a jersey number that could be retired in the coming years.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville basketball | Takeaways from Cards' updated 2017-18 roster," 30 Aug. 2017
Festival attendance had already hit an all-time high by early afternoon, said retired veterinarian Larry McAfee, one of the festival's many volunteers.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Aukiki festival garners state recognition," 30 Aug. 2017
But Rice, who will retire at the end of the year, still intends to see plenty of games.

— matt le cren, Naperville Sun, "From Fenway to Suntrust, Naperville's Mark Rice visits every major league park," 29 Aug. 2017
After a discussion with the sports management staff and his coach, Matthews decided to retire from football to avoid the potential dangers that could come from playing.

— jesse newell, kansascity, "Heart screening on top recruit ‘probably saved his life,’ KU football coach says," 29 Aug. 2017
Raney retired in 2015 and is now a law enforcement consultant.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Arpaio ‘an embarrassment to sheriffs,’ former Ada County sheriff says," 28 Aug. 2017
Yayoi Watanabe, a native of Hiroshima, has owned the business since 2005, when the last of three previous owners retired.

— patric kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Last Bento-Ya in Boyle Heights Transports Diners to the Neighborhood’s Past," 25 Aug. 2017
And science historian Jöran Friberg, retired from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, blasts the idea.

— ron cowen, Science | AAAS, "This ancient Babylonian tablet may contain the first evidence of trigonometry," 24 Aug. 2017
New head coach Anna Romero takes over the program from Michael Moynihan, who retired after 16 seasons.

— tim schwartz, Howard County Times, "Atholton volleyball eying another state championship run," 24 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of retire

Middle French retirer, from re- + tirer to draw

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First Known Use: 1533

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retire Synonyms

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

RETIRE Defined for English Language Learners

retire

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verb

Definition of retire for English Language Learners

: to stop a job or career because you have reached the age when you are not allowed to work anymore or do not need or want to work anymore
: to cause (someone, such as a military officer) to end a job or career
: to stop playing in a game, competition, etc., especially because of injury

RETIRE Defined for Kids

retire

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verb re·tire \ ri-ˈtīr \

Definition of retire for Students

retired; retiring

1 :to give up a job permanently :quit working

My grandfather retired at 65 years old.

2 :to go away especially to be alone

I retired to my room.

3 :to go to bed

I'm retiring for the night.

4 :to withdraw from use or service

The navy retired an old ship.

5 :to get away from action or danger :retreat

The army retired from the battlefield.

—

retirement

\-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

retire

verb re·tire

legal Definition of retire

retired; retiring

intransitive verb

:to withdraw from an action

the jury retired for deliberations

transitive verb

:to withdraw from circulation or from the market

retire a loan

retire stock

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Examples of retire in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of retire

retire Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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RETIRE Defined for English Language Learners

retire

Definition of retire for English Language Learners

RETIRE Defined for Kids

retire

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retirement

Law Dictionary

retire

legal Definition of retire

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