# retire

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹəˈtaɪə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #6,613

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

## Easily confused with
- **retro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-retro)
- **retry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-retry)
- **return** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-return)
- **revive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-revive)
- **revise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-revise)
- **revere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-revere)
- **retort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-retort)
- **retired** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-retired)
- **retiree** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retire-vs-retiree)
- **regime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regime-vs-retire)
- **recipe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recipe-vs-retire)
- **reside** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reside-vs-retire)
- **retina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retina-vs-retire)
- **retard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retire)
- **recite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recite-vs-retire)
- **refine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/refine-vs-retire)
- **retake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retake-vs-retire)
- **relive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/relive-vs-retire)
- **Recife** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recife-vs-retire)
- **require** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/require-vs-retire)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ertire`, `reitre`, `retier`, `retirre`, `retrie`, `rettire`, `rretire`, `rteire`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/retire