ENGLISH
REFERENCE

retiring

v. · adj. · n.
US //ɹiˈtaɪɝɪŋ// UK //ɹɪtˈaɪəɹɪŋ// re·tir·ing
  1. 1 leaving work permanently (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    stopping work permanently, usually because you have reached a certain age.

    the present participle of 'retire', referring to the act of permanently leaving one's employment or professional career, typically due to age.

    Example

    My father is retiring next month after forty years at the same company.

    Example

    With several senior partners retiring this year, the firm is facing a significant leadership transition that requires careful succession planning.

    Usage

    Often used in the continuous tense to describe a planned future event.
  2. 2 shy or private (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    shy and quiet; someone who prefers to stay away from other people.

    characterised by a shy, modest, or reserved temperament; avoiding social contact or publicity.

    Example

    She was a quiet, retiring woman who spent most of her time gardening.

    Example

    Despite his fame, the author remained a retiring figure, rarely granting interviews or appearing at public literary festivals.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern English, 'shy' or 'reserved' is much more common; 'retiring' is usually reserved for formal character descriptions.
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  1. 3 the act of leaving a job (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of leaving your job for good.

    the gerund form of 'retire', used to describe the process or act of ending one's professional life.

    Example

    His retiring was a big surprise to everyone in the office.

    Example

    The suddenness of the CEO's retiring caused a brief dip in the company's share price as investors sought clarity on the future.

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