retire

verb

ri-ˈtī(-ə)r How to pronounce retire (audio)
Definition of retirenext
1
as in to bed
to go to one's bed in order to sleep I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retire The plan would also prohibit new horse carriage licenses; the horses would be retired, and the city would develop a transition program to help drivers find new jobs. — Jessica Moore, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 After 37 years at Mac’s Drive-Thru in Gainesville, Florida, sunny and beloved Sighle is retiring. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 This year, SpaceX announced plans to retire the Falcon 9, its main reusable rocket. — Kathleen Curlee, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026 Grimm recently retired from the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for retire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retire
  1. bed
  2. sack
  3. withdraw
  4. settle
  5. dismiss
  6. retreat
  7. sleep
  8. remove
Verb
  • Complete the transformation with fresh bedding, decorative pillows, or a cozy throw.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • There’s nothing about the white bedding, dark-wood furniture, and tan carpeting that will knock your socks off—but nothing that will make your toes curl, either.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of bed
Verb
  • On the next play, Bolden sacked Russell and thwarted the Crimson Tide’s chances of kicking a game-tying field goal.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Herbert was sacked five times with a fumble and an interception.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of sack
Verb
  • The Republican governor did not provide a reason for withdrawing Thompson’s death warrant but had temporarily stayed his execution last month pending a psychiatric evaluation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • According to online court records, two of the three cases were settled and one was withdrawn.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of withdraw
Verb
  • On the industry side, Serielizados Pro has settled into its identity as a boutique forum.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Composed of the Hernández brothers (Jorge, Hernán, Eduardo and Luis) and cousin Óscar Lara, Los Tigres Del Norte was founded in the late 1960s in the Sinaloan town of Rosa Morada and settled in San José.
    — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • The stance has seen Newsom, who warns the passage of Prop 40 could see an exodus of the super rich from California, mocked and dismissed by fellow Democrats.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The complaint was ultimately dismissed, and Iowa's Republican leaders celebrated the ruling.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Meanwhile, conservative activists spread rumors last week that Talarico was struggling with his mental health and had secretly retreated to an Ohio hospital.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • The cars need to charge for about fifty minutes every six to eight hours—a cycle under way twenty-four hours a day, because a Waymo does not sleep at night.
    — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In the premium version of the app, Health Guardian also monitors blood pressure, insulin resistance, and sleeping trends.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sleep
Verb
  • The woman contacted her 72-year-old father, who came out of the house to remove Gonzalez.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • While no service can promise to remove all your data from the internet, a data removal service can monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of remove

Phrases Containing retire

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retinues
retire
retired
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Cite this Entry

“Retire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retire. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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