verb

retire

rih-TYRE/rɪˈtaɪər/

To withdraw from active participation.

The office worker retires and turns to gardening after her workplace send-off.

An older office worker ends her working life: a compact two-scene sequence pairs a warm workplace send-off and surrender of her badge with the same woman enjoying gardening at home, her office briefcase put away.

Etymology

Drawing back originally described retreating or withdrawing to a private place. The meaning extended to withdrawing from one's occupation, giving the modern sense of permanently leaving work.

In context

The ReLit Foundation: reading for wellbeing2:32

a king saying that he's going to retire to hand on power rule to the next generation he says his four score years old he's in his 80s

Series 6: Old Age and Dementia

More examples

He retired from professional tennis after a long career.
The pitcher retires the side with three quick strikeouts.
She retires to her bedroom early to get some sleep.
The company uses its profits to retire the debt.

Forms

retire · retires · retired · retiring

retirement noun — The act or state of leaving working life.

retiree noun — A person who has retired from work.

Similar words

withdraw: Means leaving participation without necessarily ending a career.
resign: Means formally leaving a position, not necessarily stopping work.
quit: Means stopping a job or activity, often without permanence.