Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

retire

/ɹəˈtaɪɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.05 in modern English

Syllables
re-tire
IPA
/ɹəˈtaɪɹ/
6
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.

Intransitive verb

verb

To stop playing their sport and in competitions a sports player.

Intransitive verb

verb

To withdraw; to take away.

Transitive verb

verb

To cease use or production of something.

Transitive verb

verb

To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay.

Transitive verb

verb

To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list.

Transitive verb

verb

To voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat.

Intransitive verb

verb

To make a play which results in a runner or the batter being out, either by means of a put out, fly out or strikeout. Also, when such an event ends a team's turn at bat.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

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.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ɹəˈtaɪɹ/
  • British English: /ɹɪˈtaɪə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

retires (present, singular) retiring (participle, present) retired (participle, past) retired (past) retires (plural) retyre (alternative)

Derived Forms

retirable retiral retirant retiree retirer unretire

Phrases

retire hurt retire the side

Frequently Paired Words

retirement tirer

Synonyms

retreat go to bed turn in bed crawl in kip down hit the hay hit the sack sack out go to sleep

Rhymes With

inspire admire dire expire tyre shire aspire inquire mcguire maguire squire ire

Questions

How do you pronounce retire?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɹəˈtaɪɹ/.
What does retire mean?
To stop working on a permanent basis, usually because of old age or illness.
Where does retire come from?
It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce retire

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “retire”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹəˈtaɪɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “retire”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “retire” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.