retire

/ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/

//ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"retire" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“retire” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #6,613 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#6,613
frequency rank, English
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

retire vs retro
67% similar
retire vs retry
67% similar
retire vs return
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for retire
PropertyValue
Headwordretire
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/
Letters6
Frequency rank#6,613
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “retire” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). retire lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for retire is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #6,613 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 12 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for retire, with forms such as "ertire", "reitre", and "retier". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "retro", "retry", "return", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin. The correct English form is retire, spelled R-E-T-I-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
  2. 2
    To stop playing their sport and in competitions a sports player.
  3. 3
    To withdraw; to take away.
  4. 4
    To cease use or production of something.
  5. 5
    To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay.
  6. 6
    To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list.
  7. 7
    To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat.
  8. 8
    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. Also, when such an event ends a team's turn at bat.
  9. 9
    To go back or return; to withdraw or retreat, especially from public view; to go into privacy.
  10. 10
    To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure.
  11. 11
    To recede; to fall or bend back.
  12. 12
    To go to bed.

Etymology

From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin.

This word in other languages

jubilar(Español)prendre sa retraite(Français)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ertire,reitre,retier,retirre,retrie,rettire,rretire,rteire

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of retire - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ertire2reitre2retier2retirre1retrie2rettire1rretire1rteire2
Edit distance from "retire"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "retire"?
"retire" is spelled R-E-T-I-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/.
What does "retire" mean?
As a verb, "retire" means: To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
What words are commonly confused with "retire"?
"retire" is commonly confused with "retro", "retry", "return". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "retire"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "retire" is /ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "retire"?
From Middle French retirer (“draw back”), from Old French retirer, built from re- (“back”) + tirer (“draw, pull”), the latter from Vulgar Latin *tīrāre, of highly uncertain origin. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “retire”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is R-E-T-I-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “retro” - see the side-by-side comparison. retire vs retro
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list