How to pronounce retire
American English pronunciation
rih-TYR
- IPA
- /ɹɪˈtaɪɚ/
- Syllables
- rih · TYR (2 syllables, stress on the 2nd)
Love words? Try a free round: no sign-up, about two minutes. Play free
What retire means
To stop working for good, usually because of age
In a sentence: Grandpa plans to retire next year and spend more time fishing.
Where it comes from: It comes from a French word, retirer, meaning to draw back: re-, meaning back, plus tirer, meaning to pull. No one is sure where tirer came from.
Can you spot the real meaning? Try one
Loading a word…
Another meaning
To go to bed or to your room for the night
In a sentence: The guests retired to their rooms after the long dinner.
Where it comes from: It comes from French "retirer," meaning to draw back. Going to bed is a way of drawing back from other people.
Can you spot the real meaning? Play Wordfib
One free round, no sign-up. Wordfib shows a word and four meanings: one real, three fibs.