RETIRING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does retiring mean? 

• RETIRING (adjective)
  The adjective RETIRING has 3 senses:

1. not arrogant or presuming

2. of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office

3. reluctant to draw attention to yourself

  Familiarity information: RETIRING used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETIRING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not arrogant or presuming

Synonyms:

retiring; unassuming

Context example:

a shy retiring girl

Similar:

modest (marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office

Synonyms:

past; preceding; retiring

Context example:

a retiring member of the board

Similar:

outgoing (leaving a place or a position)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reluctant to draw attention to yourself

Synonyms:

reticent; retiring; self-effacing

Similar:

unassertive (inclined to timidity or lack of self-confidence)

 Context examples 

He considered his disposition as of the sort which must suffer heavily, uniting very strong feelings with quiet, serious, and retiring manners, and a decided taste for reading, and sedentary pursuits.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It is modest and retiring, it lies in ambush, waits and waits.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Very retiring and gentlemanly he was.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He has had the reputation of being a man of eccentric habits, secretive and retiring.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She was always so gentle and retiring that her emotions were beyond his discrimination.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

On every side, wherever the live coals had fallen, the snow was sizzling, and every little while a retiring wolf, with wild leap and snort and snarl, announced that one such live coal had been stepped upon.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The day was bright, her courage high; at four o'clock, the sun was now two hours above the horizon, and it would be only her retiring to dress half an hour earlier than usual.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I knocked him down, and the police have him in custody; but I can tell you with the most absolute confidence that no possible connection will ever be traced between the gentleman upon whose front teeth I have barked my knuckles and the retiring mathematical coach, who is, I daresay, working out problems upon a blackboard ten miles away.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Like young Washington, Mr. Bhaer 'couldn't tell a lie', so he gave the somewhat vague reply that he believed they did sometimes, in a tone that made Mr. March put down his clothesbrush, glance at Jo's retiring face, and then sink into his chair, looking as if the 'precocious chick' had put an idea into his head that was both sweet and sour.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Because, continued Agnes, Doctor Strong has acted on his intention of retiring, and has come to live in London; and he asked papa, I know, if he could recommend him one.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)