retire

verb

ri-ˈtī(-ə)r How to pronounce retire (audio)
Definition of retirenext
1
as in to bed
to go to one's bed in order to sleep I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retire Six days after the Yankees’ first 15 batters couldn’t get a hit off Bennett, the lanky left-hander retired the Angels’ first 13 batters before Vaughn Grissom’s fifth-inning single. — Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Assistant County Administrator Bridgette Cobbins, who has worked for the Unified Government for three decades, is also retiring. — Sofi Zeman july 2, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026 The Bucyrus Museum is run largely by volunteers, most of them retired Bucyrus workers, with support from the South Milwaukee Historical Society. — Malika Bowling, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity. — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for retire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retire
  1. bed
  2. sack
  3. withdraw
  4. settle
  5. dismiss
  6. retreat
  7. sleep
  8. remove
Verb
  • While restrooms and showers are shared, family room guests still receive access to bedding, towels, complimentary meals, a lounge, priority boarding, and a dedicated attendant.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • In the spirit of shopping, the retail giant is keeping the savings going this month, with bedding discounts up to 35% off.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Definition of bed
Verb
  • The Hightowers, Rhaenyra soon learns, have sacked the town of Tumbleton, a thriving city on the border of the Crownlands and the Reach.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • That came in the spring of 2025, about 11 months after his dad had been sacked as coach, when Pochettino, the new manager, gave the younger Berhalter his first national team call-up.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of sack
Verb
  • About 71 percent of the SPAC’s cash pool stayed in the merger rather than being withdrawn by investors.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • This means they can be revised or withdrawn without legislation.
    — Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of withdraw
Verb
  • Gendron said his ancestors were among the first outsiders to settle the island in the 1700s, when three brothers, fur traders all, left Canada and followed the Mississippi south.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The space is cozy and laid back, with an atmosphere that encourages guests to settle in for a drink or two.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of settle
Verb
  • In April, the Superior Court dismissed the three citations Hubbard received in May 2025 when no park ranger or city attorney appeared for the prosecution, his lawsuit states.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Freeney did not dismiss the business side of the arrangement.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Once again, Brazil’s midfield is quickly retreating towards their own goal as Morocco pile forward.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • Moreover, the shock of higher prices is still fresh in people's minds and may be coloring consumers' purchasing decisions, despite signs that prices should retreat further.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
Definition of retreat
Verb
  • The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.
    — Isa Soares, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • One couple slept on the grass with umbrellas over their heads and just two thin blankets for cover on what turned out to be a cooler night than expected following a London heatwave where temperatures soared to 95 degrees.
    — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of sleep
Verb
  • Three of the reports stemmed from consumers swallowing the metal pieces and seeking medical treatment to remove them from their digestive tract or throat, the agency said.
    — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Residents objected to removing trees and other construction activities.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of remove

Phrases Containing retire

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retinues
retire
retired
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Cite this Entry

“Retire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retire. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on retire

Nglish: Translation of retire for Spanish Speakers

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