# retiring

/ɹiˈtaɪɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹɪtˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retiring
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. leaving work permanently

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

- My father is retiring next month after forty years at the same company.
- 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. shy or private

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

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

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

- She was a quiet, retiring woman who spent most of her time gardening.
- Despite his fame, the author remained a retiring figure, rarely granting interviews or appearing at public literary festivals.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'shy' or 'reserved' is much more common; 'retiring' is usually reserved for formal character descriptions.

### 3. the act of leaving a job

noun · CEFR B2

the act of leaving your job for good.

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

- His retiring was a big surprise to everyone in the office.
- The suddenness of the CEO's retiring caused a brief dip in the company's share price as investors sought clarity on the future.

## Examples

- My father plans to retire next year after forty years of teaching.
- After a long and successful career in finance, she is retiring to spend more time traveling.
- The guests began retiring to their respective rooms shortly after midnight, leaving the host alone to reflect on the evening's festivities.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.