unretire

verb

un·​re·​tire ˌən-ri-ˈtī(-ə)r How to pronounce unretire (audio)
unretired; unretiring; unretires

intransitive verb

: to leave retirement : rejoin the workforce

Examples of unretire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Messi, 39, previously retired from playing for Argentina in 2016 but unretired in time for the 2018 World Cup, where the team lost to eventual champion France in the round of 16. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 Following a July federal court ruling in Colorado that initially granted everyone in his class an extra year, Dent unretired and entered the transfer portal for one more season. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026 The legendary tennis player, 44, previously returned to the tennis circuit, announcing her plan to unretire on June 1. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 The new designer intended for the shroud to represent Jordan moving into the front office as part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards, but no — 23 would end up wearing it on court during the preseason when deciding to unretire for the second time. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unretire

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unretire was in 1948

Rhymes for unretire

See All Rhymes for unretire

Browse Nearby Words

unreticent
unretire
unretouched
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unretire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unretire. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All