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Glite Dictionary
🙈 Shy and quiet 👋 Leaving a job
retiring

retiring

6.7
A shy, quiet person who does not like attention
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈtaɪərɪŋ/
translation icon : tímido
  • Although talented, she has always been retiring and avoids the spotlight.

Examples

  • His retiring nature made it hard for him to network at the social event.

  • Now, I am not a retiring flower.

  • She is quite a retiring person who prefers to listen rather than speak in large groups.

Synonyms

unassuming
vsretiring
20 5.8

A person or thing that is not proud and not showy

stays out of notice mainly from shyness and quiet behavior
reticent
vsretiring
17 7.9

Not willing to talk about thoughts or feelings easily

avoids attention by being reserved and not speaking freely
self-effacing
vsretiring
7 7.4

Not wanting attention and being modest

prefers not to draw attention because of being shy and quiet
withdrawn
vsretiring
4.8

Someone who is quiet and prefers to be alone instead of being with others

stays out of notice through shyness rather than deliberate solitude

Antonyms

outgoing
46 3.0

Friendly and confident when talking to other people

extroverted
6 4.2

Enjoys being with other people and feels confident in social situations

How Shy

reclusive
24 7.4
retiring
6.7
shy
343 1.0
reserved
3.7
outgoing
46 3.0

Surface Forms

retiring positive

Morphology

retiring = retire (semi-transparent) = retire + ing

Formed from 'retire' + '-ing' and historically means 'inclined to withdraw', but many learners know 'retire' primarily as 'leave a job', so the 'shy/withdrawn' sense may be unexpected.

Etymology

The word retiring comes from the parts re- 'back' and a root that means 'pull', the same idea you see in tractor. A retiring person 'pulls back' from other people, so they are shy and quiet.