Retired — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ri-ˈtī(-ə)rd/ re·tired

Meaning & Definition of Retired

Retired (adjective)

  1. secluded
  2. withdrawn from one's position or occupation, having concluded one's working or professional career
  3. received by or due to one in retirement

Retired (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. screened or sequestered from view

    "hiked out to a retired beach and fished in the surf"

    similar: cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, secluded, secret, sheltered
    related: lone, lonely, lonesome, reclusive, solitary, private
    near: obvious, visible, exposed

Retired (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go to one's bed in order to sleep

    "I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening"

    similar: bedded, crashed (slang), dossed (down) (chiefly British), turned in, hit the hay
    related: bunked, perched, roosted, settled, dozed, dropped off, napped, nodded, slept, slumbered, snoozed, couched, lay (down), reclined
    opposite: arose, got up, rose, uprose
    near: aroused, awakened, awoke, roused, wakened, woke, bestirred, stirred, reawakened, reawoke, shifted

  2. to let go from office, service, or employment

    "as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees"

    similar: axed, bounced, canned, cashiered, discharged, dismissed, fired, mustered out, pink-slipped, released, removed, sacked, terminated, turned off, sent packing, showed (someone) the door
    related: downsized, excessed, furloughed, laid off, trimmed, booted (out), chucked (out), drummed (out), kicked out, threw out, unseated, separated
    opposite: employed, engaged, hired, retained, signed (up or on), took on
    near: kept, reemployed, rehired, contracted, subcontracted, recruited

  3. to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

    "the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive"

    similar: backed away, dropped back, fell back, pulled out, receded, retreated, withdrew, gave ground, gave way, lost ground
    related: fled, flew, flinched, recoiled, shrank, chickened (out), bowed out, backed down, backpedaled, backtracked, climbed down, detached, disengaged, disentangled, pulled away, abandoned, departed, evacuated, left, quit, vacated, went
    opposite: advanced
    near: bearded, braved, brazened, breasted, confronted, dared, defied, faced, outbraved

Related Entry: Retire (verb)

Retire is a different word from Retired. The synonyms below are for retire, not for retired.

  1. to go to one's bed in order to sleep

    "I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening"

    similar: bed, crash (slang), doss (down) (chiefly British), turn in, hit the hay
    related: bunk, perch, roost, settle, doze, drop off, nap, nod, sleep, slumber, snooze, couch, lie (down), recline
    opposite: arise, get up, rise, uprise
    near: arouse, awake, awaken, rouse, wake, waken, bestir, stir, reawake, reawaken, shift

  2. to let go from office, service, or employment

    "as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees"

    similar: ax, bounce, can, cashier, discharge, dismiss, fire, muster out, pink-slip, release, remove, sack, terminate, turn off, send packing, show (someone) the door
    related: downsize, excess, furlough, lay off, trim, boot (out), chuck (out), drum (out), kick out, throw out, unseat, separate
    opposite: employ, engage, hire, retain, sign (up or on), take on
    near: keep, reemploy, rehire, contract, subcontract, recruit

  3. to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

    "the insurgents have retired to the outskirts of the city, but appear to be readying themselves for another offensive"

    similar: back away, drop back, fall back, pull out, recede, retreat, withdraw, give ground, give way, lose ground
    related: flee, fly, flinch, recoil, shrink, chicken (out), bow out, back down, backpedal, backtrack, climb down, detach, disengage, disentangle, pull away, abandon, depart, evacuate, go, leave, quit, vacate
    opposite: advance
    near: beard, brave, brazen, breast, confront, dare, defy, face, outbrave

Related Entry: Retire (from) (verb)

Retire (from) is a different word from Retired. The synonyms below are for retire (from), not for retired.

  1. to give up (a job or office)

    "at the age of 72, she finally retired from the job she had held at the shoe factory for over 50 years"

    similar: bag, chuck, leave, quit, resign (from), step aside (from), step down (from), give notice
    related: abandon, vacate, drop out (of), throw up
    opposite: keep, stay (at)
    near: hire (out), join, sign on (for)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Retired

The most common words with a similar meaning to Retired:

Slang: crashed
Chiefly British: dossed (down)
cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, secluded, secret, sheltered, bedded, turned in, axed, bounced, canned, cashiered, discharged, dismissed, fired, mustered out, pink-slipped, released, removed, sacked, terminated, turned off, backed away, dropped back, fell back, pulled out, receded, retreated, withdrew, hit the hay, sent packing, showed (someone) the door, gave ground, gave way, lost ground

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Retired

Words with the opposite meaning of Retired:

arose, got up, rose, uprose, employed, engaged, hired, retained, signed (up or on), took on, advanced

Related Words for Retired

lone, lonely, lonesome, reclusive, solitary, private, bunked, perched, roosted, settled, dozed, dropped off, napped, nodded, slept, slumbered, snoozed, couched, lay (down), reclined, downsized, excessed, furloughed, laid off, trimmed, booted (out), chucked (out), drummed (out), kicked out, threw out

Near Antonyms of Retired

obvious, visible, exposed, aroused, awakened, awoke, roused, wakened, woke, bestirred, stirred, reawakened, reawoke, shifted, kept, reemployed, rehired, contracted, subcontracted, recruited, bearded, braved, brazened, breasted, confronted, dared, defied, faced, outbraved

Word Forms of Retired

Derived words: retiredly (adverb), retiredness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Retired

First known use: 1585

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Retired

Frequently Asked Questions about Retired

What does "Retired" mean?

"Retired" means secluded. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: secluded. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Retired"?

Other words for "Retired" include cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, secluded and secret. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Retired" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Retired"?

There are 94 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Retired". Common alternatives include cloistered, covert, hidden, isolated, quiet, remote, secluded, secret, sheltered and bedded.

What is the opposite of "Retired"?

Antonyms of "Retired" include arose, got up, rose, uprose, employed, engaged, hired and retained. Near antonyms include obvious, visible, exposed and aroused.

How do you use "Retired" in a sentence?

Examples of "Retired" in a sentence: "hiked out to a retired beach and fished in the surf"; "I'm exhausted, so I think I'll retire for the evening"; "as a part of its restructuring, the company has begun to retire its older employees".

Is "Retired" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Retired" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Retired" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Retired" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Retired"?

"Retired" is pronounced /ri-ˈtī(-ə)rd/ and divided into syllables as re·tired.