retire from competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retire from competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone or something that is stepping away from competitive activities, such as sports or contests. Example: "After a long and successful career, the athlete decided to retire from competition to focus on coaching."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I'm about to cry," said Sorenstam, who will retire from competition after this season.

The New York Times - Sports

As a joyous home crowd cheered and waved flags, Fairweather said that he thought he would retire from competition.

The New York Times - Sports

In January, the surf media and blogosphere flared up briefly on the topic of whether Slater should retire from competition or keep going.

The New York Times

I said to myself: 'When I take these earphones off, my new ambition is to build a women's cycling team.'" At 30 years old, Gilmore was too young to retire from competition.

The Guardian

The survey, conducted by Monster.com, the job-search Web site, found that 60percentt of Olympians are concerned about managing their careers after they retire from competition, while 70percentt of Olympians and 47percentt of Olympic hopefuls are worried about spending too much time in training and competition at the expense of their professional development.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

He retired from competition in 1962.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1997 he retired from competition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Yagudin retired from competition in 2003.

The New York Times - Sports

The Kennedys retired from competition soon afterward.

The New York Times - Sports

After her Olympic triumph she retired from competition.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He retired from competition after the 1972 Olympics.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "retire from competition", ensure the context clearly indicates which specific competitive arena the subject is leaving (e.g., sports, academics, business).

Common error

Avoid using "retire from competition" when referring to a temporary break or hiatus. The phrase implies a permanent end to competitive participation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retire from competition" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of permanently ceasing participation in competitive activities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely understood. The examples show its usage across various contexts, mainly sports and professional careers.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retire from competition" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the permanent cessation of participation in competitive activities. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and the examples illustrate its use across news, encyclopedias and various other contexts, primarily related to sports and professional careers. While relatively rare, it's a clear and effective way to convey the end of someone's competitive journey. Related phrases like "withdraw from competition" or "cease competing" offer subtle differences in meaning and formality. When employing this phrase, ensure the context is clear about the specific competitive arena and that the retirement is indeed permanent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdraw from competition

Implies a more immediate or abrupt removal from a specific competition or set of competitions.

retire from competitive sports

Similar, but emphasizes sports as the competitive domain.

end one's competitive career

Directly states the termination of a career focused on competition.

cease competing

A more formal and general way to express stopping participation in competitions.

step down from competition

Suggests a voluntary relinquishing of a competitive role.

stop competing professionally

Specifies the end of professional participation in competitions.

hang up one's boots

An idiomatic expression primarily used in sports, indicating retirement.

bow out of competition

Implies a graceful or planned exit from competitive activities.

call it a career

A common phrase indicating the end of a professional career, often in sports.

relinquish competitive activity

A formal way to express giving up competitive engagements.

FAQs

What does "retire from competition" mean?

The phrase "retire from competition" means to permanently stop participating in competitive events, typically in sports or other professional fields.

What can I say instead of "retire from competition"?

You can use alternatives like "withdraw from competition", "cease competing", or "call it a career" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "retire from competition" in a formal context?

Yes, "retire from competition" is appropriate in formal contexts, especially when discussing athletes or professionals ending their careers. However, alternatives like "cease competing" might be preferable in very formal writing.

Can "retire from competition" be used for activities other than sports?

Yes, while often used in sports, "retire from competition" can apply to any field where individuals engage in competitive activities, such as academic contests or professional tournaments.