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Synonyms

retiring

American  
[ri-tahyuhr-ing] / rɪˈtaɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

  1. that retires.

  2. withdrawing from contact with others; reserved; shy.

    Synonyms:
    timid, bashful, diffident
retiring British  
/ rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ /

adjective

  1. shunning contact with others; shy; reserved

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonretiring adjective
  • retiringly adverb
  • retiringness noun
  • unretiring adjective

Etymology

Origin of retiring

First recorded in 1540–50; retire + -ing 2

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.

As part of retirement planning, healthcare expenses continue to rise; a 65-year-old retiring in 2025 could expect to spend an average of $172,500 on healthcare expenses throughout their retirement, according to Fidelity Investments.

From MarketWatch

It seemed like he'd taken a step back, that he wasn't too interested in the sport any longer and might be close to retiring.

From BBC

A few days later, Air Canada announced that Rousseau, who is 68, will be retiring by September.

From BBC

But McKenzie has continued to argue after retiring from the military that this isn’t enough.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related: My wife and I are retiring to Mexico.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.