i was retired

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was retired" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a past state of having retired from a job or profession. Example: "After many years of dedicated service, I was retired from my position as a teacher."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

I said I was retired.

The New Yorker

"It felt like I was retired again," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

If I was retired we would cut down considerably on the lifestyle we lead.

Independent

"It was very interesting because I was retired from my team, Santos," Pelé said in April.

The Guardian - Sport

"I was retired from the Brazil national team because we won the World Cup in 1970.

The Guardian - Sport

I guess if I was retired I might wish for that but I'm still at it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

"I was retiring after that fight.

BBC

I never wanted to officially announce that I was retiring.

BBC

I was saying I was retiring then too.

Los Angeles Times

("I'm retired," he says).

The New York Times

I'm retired at 36.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was retired" to clearly indicate a past state of being retired, especially when discussing events or situations that occurred during that period. For example: "I was retired when the new regulations were introduced."

Common error

Avoid using "I was retired" when you currently are retired. The phrase describes a past condition. If you're still retired, say "I am retired".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was retired" functions as a statement describing a past state of being. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates that the speaker had previously ceased working but may or may not be currently retired.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Sport

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was retired" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to describe a past state of retirement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's essential to use it correctly to avoid confusion about your current status. While frequently found in news and media, this phrase can be employed in various contexts to provide background information about past events or experiences, particularly when clarifying one's professional or occupational status at a specific point in time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I had retired

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of the act of retiring before a specific point in time.

I had been retired

Similar to "I had retired" but can imply a longer duration of retirement before a subsequent event.

I used to be retired

Indicates a past state of retirement that is no longer the case.

I took retirement

Focuses on the act of initiating retirement.

I went into retirement

Emphasizes the transition into a state of retirement.

I stopped working

A more general way of saying that one is no longer employed.

I ceased employment

A more formal way of stating that one is no longer employed.

I left my job

Indicates departure from a specific job, which may or may not imply full retirement.

My career ended

Highlights the conclusion of one's professional life.

I am no longer employed

A formal statement indicating the absence of current employment.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "I was retired"?

Yes, "I was retired" is grammatically correct and used to describe a past state of being in retirement. It indicates that at some point in the past, you had retired from work or a particular role.

What's the difference between "I was retired" and "I had retired"?

"I was retired" states a past condition, while "I had retired" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "I was retired in 2010" vs "I had retired before the company went bankrupt."

What can I say instead of "I was retired"?

You can use phrases like "I had retired", "I used to be retired", or "I stopped working" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "I was retired" in a sentence?

Use "I was retired" to describe a time in the past when you were no longer working. For example: "I was retired and spent my days gardening" or "When the company called, I was retired and enjoying my free time."