retire
ri-TIRE
/rɪˈtaɪər/
To leave one's job and cease to work, typically upon reaching a certain age.
While often used for age-based stopping, it can also mean to withdraw to a quiet place or to remove something from circulation.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Middle French 'retirer', meaning 'to draw back'. Originally, it was a physical movement—pulling oneself away from a battle or a social gathering—before it became the standard term for pulling away from the workforce.
Word relationships
- withdraw: More general; can refer to leaving a room or a social situation.
- step down: Specifically refers to leaving a position of authority.
- enlist: To join or start a new period of service.
- work: The active state of employment.
Commonly confused with
- resign: Resigning is leaving a specific job; retiring is leaving the workforce entirely.
Word family
- retirement (noun): The state of being retired.
- retiree (noun): A person who has retired.
Collocations
- retire early
- retire comfortably
- retire from office
Idioms & expressions
- retire into one's shell
- retire gracefully
Example sentences
- "I have decided to retire from the world." Historical literature
- "The CEO announced his plan to retire at the end of the fiscal year to spend more time with his family." Business news
Memory hook
When you retire, you 're-tire' your old work boots because you don't need them anymore. Pull back from the grind.
When not to use
Do not use 'retire' if someone is just quitting a job to start another; that is 'resigning'.
Fun facts
- In the 1600s, 'retire' was often used to describe going to bed for the night.
Explore more words
retiring, withdraw, resignation, superannuated, discontinue, call it a day
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