Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Shy and reserved; modest.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Departing; retreating; going out of sight or notice.
  • Fond of retirement; disposed to seclusion; shrinking from society or publicity; reserved.
  • Unobtrusive; modest; quiet; subdued: as, a person of retiring manners.
  • Granted to or suitable for one who retires, as from public employment or service.
  • Synonyms and Coy, bashful, diffident, shy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Reserved; shy; not forward or obtrusive
  • adjective Of or pertaining to retirement; causing retirement; suited to, or belonging to, retirement.
  • adjective (Mil.) a board of officers who consider and report upon the alleged incapacity of an officer for active service.
  • adjective a pension granted to a public officer on his retirement from office or service.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Shy, introverted, liking privacy.
  • adjective About to retire.
  • verb Present participle of retire.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective reluctant to draw attention to yourself
  • adjective of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office
  • adjective not arrogant or presuming

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Eleven o'clock had struck some half-hour ago, and the elder Steffinks began to throw out suggestions leading up to that process which they called retiring for the night.

    The Toys of Peace, and other papers 1870-1916 Saki 1893

  • After retiring from the screen, Mary Pickford continued to be involved in filmmaking.

    Five People Born on April 8 | myFiveBest 2010

  • Several Tehran papers have reported that some Iranian soccer players are retiring from the national team, fueling speculation the departure was related to green bands the players wore in support of the country's opposition movement.

    Iran Uprising Live-Blogging (Wednesday June 24) The Huffington Post News Team 2009

  • ON this general topic, I have to assume that retiring from the field of play for the call of nature or a breather is acceptable, but doing so for a snack is not.

    Lance Mannion: 2010

  • But I have to tell you, the prospect of retiring is beginning to sound better and better.

    Elizabeth Berg biography 2009

  • Shortly after retiring from the Foreign Ministry in January 1966, she became secretary general of the Mapai Party and supported Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in intraparty conflicts.

    Five People Born on May 3rd | myFiveBest 2010

  • Hughes dropped out of filmmaking in 1991, retiring from the public eye, and rarely granting or giving interviews to the media.

    John Hughes To Get Special Oscar Tribute | /Film 2010

  • With the current depressing state of the economy, politics, crime rate, standard of living, etc., there are numerous reasons why US citizens are more interested than ever in retiring abroad (beyond the boundaries of one's own country).

    Escape From America Without Leaving America 2009

  • After retiring from the military in 1972, Westmoreland moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and spent some of his time as a public speaker.

    Five People Born on March 26 | myFiveBest 2010

  • With the current depressing state of the economy, politics, crime rate, standard of living, etc., there are numerous reasons why US citizens are more interested than ever in retiring abroad (beyond the boundaries of one's own country).

    Escape From America Without Leaving America 2009

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