retire
v.v. to stop playing a sport or doing a job because you have reached a certain age or can no longer perform. You use this when a professional athlete finishes their career for good.
v. to withdraw from one's occupation or professional career, typically due to age or physical decline. In a sporting context, it refers to the permanent cessation of competitive play.
The famous striker plans to retire at the end of the season.
After winning three gold medals, the gymnast decided to retire while she was still at the top of her game.
Injuries often force athletes to retire prematurely, leaving them to navigate the difficult transition from the intensity of professional competition to a more sedentary lifestyle.
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.
From re- + tire.
The verb is intransitive when referring to the end of a career, but can be transitive when meaning to remove someone from a position.
He retired from the match because of injury.He withdrew from the match because of injury.Retire refers to ending a career permanently; use 'withdraw' or 'pull out' for leaving a single game or event.