- 1[uncountable, countable] the fact of stopping work because you have reached a particular age; the time when you do this At 60, he was approaching retirement. Susan is going to take early retirement (= retire before the usual age). retirement age This year we have seen the retirements of several senior personnel. a retirement party Topic CollocationsJobsgetting a job
- look for work
- look for/apply for/go for a job
- get/pick up/complete/fill out an application (form)
- send/e-mail your résumé/CV/application/application form/cover letter
- be called for/have/attend an interview
- offer somebody a job/work/employment/a promotion
- find/get/land a job
- employ/hire/recruit staff/workers/trainees
- recruit/appoint a manager
- arrive at/get to/leave work/the office/the factory
- start/finish work/your shift
- do/put in/work overtime
- have/gain/get/lack/need experience/qualifications
- do/get/have/receive training
- learn/pick up/improve/develop (your) skills
- cope with/manage/share/spread/delegate the workload
- improve your/achieve a better work-life balance
- have (no) job satisfaction/job security
- have a job/work/a career/a vocation
- find/follow/pursue your vocation
- enter/go into/join a profession
- choose/embark on/start/begin/pursue a career
- change jobs/professions/careers
- be/go/work freelance
- do/take on temp work/freelance work
- do/be engaged in/be involved in volunteer work
- leave/quit/resign from your job
- give up work/your job/your career
- hand in your notice/resignation
- plan to/be due to retire in June/next year, etc.
- take early retirement
- 2[uncountable, singular] the period of your life after you have stopped work at a particular age to provide for retirement We all wish you a long and happy retirement. Up to a third of one's life is now being spent in retirement. Topic CollocationsThe Ages of Lifechildhood/youth
- be born (and raised) in New York; into a wealthy/middle-class family
- have a happy/an unhappy/a tough childhood
- grow up in a musical family/in an orphanage/on a farm
- be/grow up an only child (= with no brothers or sisters)
- reach/hit/enter/go through adolescence/puberty
- be in your teens/early twenties/mid-twenties/late twenties
- undergo/experience physical/psychological changes
- give in to/succumb to/resist peer pressure
- assert your independence/individuality
- leave home
- graduate from school/college
- go to work (at the age of 21)
- get/find a job/partner
- be/get engaged/married
- have a wife/husband/mortgage/steady job
- settle down and have kids/start a family
- begin/start/launch/build a career (in politics/science/the music industry)
- prove (to be)/represent/mark/reach a (major) turning point in your life/career
- reach/be well into/settle into middle age
- have/suffer/go through a midlife crisis
- take/consider early retirement
- approach/announce/enjoy your retirement
- see/spend time with your grandchildren
- take up/pursue/develop a hobby
- get/receive/draw/collect/live on a pension
- approach/save for/die of old age
- live to a ripe old age
- reach the grand old age of 102/23 (often humorous)
- be/become/be getting/be going senile (often humorous)
- die (peacefully)/pass away in your sleep/after a brief illness
- 3[uncountable] retirement (from something) the act of stopping a particular type of work, especially in sports, politics, etc. He announced his retirement from football. She came out of retirement to win two gold medals at the championships.
Check pronunciation: retirement