retire Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position
    • He retired at age 68
  2. verb withdraw from active participation
    withdraw.
    • He retired from chess
  3. verb pull back or move away or backward
    recede; pull back; move back; withdraw; pull away; draw back; retreat.
    • The enemy withdrew
    • The limo pulled away from the curb
  4. verb withdraw from circulation or from the market, as of bills, shares, and bonds
  5. verb break from a meeting or gathering
    adjourn; withdraw.
    • We adjourned for lunch
    • The men retired to the library
  6. verb make (someone) retire
    • The director was retired after the scandal
  7. verb dispose of (something no longer useful or needed)
    • She finally retired that old coat
  8. verb lose interest
    withdraw.
    • he retired from life when his wife died
  9. verb cause to be out on a fielding play
    put out.
  10. verb cause to get out
    strike out.
    • The pitcher retired three batters
    • the runner was put out at third base
  11. verb prepare for sleep
    sack out; hit the sack; bed; kip down; turn in; go to bed; go to sleep; crawl in; hit the hay.
    • I usually turn in at midnight
    • He goes to bed at the crack of dawn

WordNet

Re*tire" transitive verb
Etymology
F. retirer; pref. re- re- + tirer to draw. See Tirade.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Retired ; present participle & verbal noun Retiring
Definitions
  1. To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.
    He . . . retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest. Sir P. Sidney.
    As when the sun is present all the year, And never doth retire his golden ray. Sir J. Davies.
  2. To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
  3. To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.
Re*tire" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.
    To Una back he cast him to retire. Spenser.
    The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she gladly doth retire. Sir J. Davies.
  2. To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
    Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die. 2 Sam. xi. 15.
  3. To withdraw from a public station, or from business; as, having made a large fortune, he retired.
    And from Britannia's public posts retire. Addison.
  4. To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
  5. To go to bed; as, he usually retires early. Syn. -- To withdraw; leave; depart; secede; recede; retreat; retrocede.
Re*tire" noun
Definitions
  1. The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires. Obs.
    The battle and the retire of the English succors. Bacon.
    [Eve] discover'd soon the place of her retire. Milton.
  2. (Mil.) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.

Webster 1913