Synonyms for retire
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Withdraw
withdraw, re-treat, draw back, move back, back out, recede, pull away, put out, give place, depart, bow out, remove, shrink, ebb, seclude, retrocede
2. Go to bed
turn in, go to bed, go to sleep, bed, sack out slang, hit the sack slang, hit the hay slang, kip down slang UK
Other
beat a retreat informal, strike out, adjourn
Definitions
- v. 1
To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
He wants to retire at 55.
- v. 2
To stop playing their sport and in competitions a sports player.
I have decided to retire from test cricket at 45.
- v. 3
To withdraw; to take away.
Related words
- Word family
- retirant retiree retirer retirement
Forms
- Past participle
- retired
e.g. retired → withdrawn, re-treated, receded, departed…
Example sentences
- withdraw You may as well withdraw from the club right away.
- depart At what time does the taxi to the airport depart?
- seclude You should seclude him from temptation.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| retire | steady | |
| withdraw | falling | |
| depart | steady | |
| seclude | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bed1, ebb1
- 5 letters
- leave1
- 6 letters
- remove2, depart2, shrink1, recede2
- 7 letters
- abandon3, adjourn2, seclude2
- 8 letters
- withdraw2, abdicate3
- 9 letters
- retrocede
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (remove2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- se retirer