retiring
ri-TY-ring
/rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ/
Shy, modest, and inclined to avoid notice or publicity.
Highlights humility, mildness, and a gentle desire not to draw attention to oneself.
The story behind the word. From Old French retirer ('to draw back'). Just as a soldier might retire from the battlefield or a tired guest might retire to bed, a retiring person physically and mentally steps back from center stage.
Word relationships
- unassuming: Emphasizes lack of arrogance or pretension.
- diffident: Emphasizes lack of self-confidence alongside shyness.
- assertive: Confident and forceful in personality.
- forward: Bold and eager to push oneself into notice.
Commonly confused with
- withdrawn: Withdrawn carries a darker tone of emotional detachment or sadness, while retiring is gentle and modest.
Word family
- retire (verb): To withdraw from action or go into a quiet place.
- retiringly (adverb): In a modest, self-effacing manner.
Collocations
- retiring nature
- shy and retiring
- retiring disposition
- modest and retiring
Idioms & expressions
- shrink from the spotlight
- a wallflower
Example sentences
- "Her retiring disposition made her uncomfortable receiving public awards, despite her outstanding research." Personality description
- "He was a quiet, retiring man who spent his evenings cataloging rare botanical books." Character trait analysis
Memory hook
RETIRING people want to RETIRE into the background. Stepping back from the spotlight.
When not to use
Do not confuse with the act of leaving a job at age 65 (though it shares the same verbal origin).
Fun facts
- The phrase 'shy and retiring' is a very common idiomatic collocation in classic English literature.
Explore more words
modest, self-effacing, demure, unassuming, withdrawn, retire
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