retire
Looking for the meaning of retire? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
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The act of retiring, or the state of being retired.
A place to which one retires.
A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
“At the retire, the cavalry fell back.”
To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
“Having made a large fortune, he retired.”
(sometimes reflexive) To withdraw; to take away.
To cease use or production of something.
“The steamship made thousands of trips over several decades before it was retired by the shipping company.”
To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay.
“The central bank retired those notes five years ago.”
To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list.
“The board retired the old major.”
(of a batsman) To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat.
“Jones retired in favour of Smith.”
(of a fielder) To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout.
“Jones retired Smith 6-3.”
To go back or return; to withdraw or retreat, especially from public view; to go into privacy.
“I will retire to the study.”
To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure.
“The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed.”
To recede; to fall or bend back.
“Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves.”
To go to bed.
“I will retire for the night.”
To remove or cease to use.
“When a hurricane becomes so deadly or destructive that future use would be insensitive, officials may retire the name of the hurricane.”
Understanding "retire"
The word **"retire"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **N/A**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"retire"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "retire" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "retire" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "retire" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as a standard English phoneme pattern. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "retire" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "retire" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "retire" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "retire". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (N/A), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "retire" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
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How do I use retire in a sentence?
Refer to the usage examples above to see how "retire" can be used in academic and casual conversations.