Definitions

retire

[ri-tahyuhr] / rɪˈtaɪər /

VERB

leave a place or responsibility

Synonyms

STRONGEST

depart go pull out relinquish remove retreat separate surrender withdraw

STRONG

decamp ebb exit part recede regress repeal rescind resign revoke rusticate secede yield

WEAK

absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give ground give up work give way go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull back run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advance continue remain stay

STRONG

approve arrive come in increase join

WEAK

begin enter

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The pair had been scheduled to play their quarter-final on Thursday but Mboko, 19, suffered a nasty fall in her singles match on Wednesday, which forced her to retire from the match.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Höttges plans to retire at the end of 2028 and wants the right successor to be found first, said people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Castaneda says she and her husband had hoped to retire in Italy.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

"It was the moment where I realised I was going to retire and I started thinking about the game in a different way," Iraola said.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“We’ll consider that most carefully when we retire into the parley room, you have my promise.”

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman

Vocabulary lists containing retire

"Of Mice and Men"

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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 1–January 7, 2022

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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for April 17–April 23, 2021

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