STEP DOWN (FROM) Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

step down (from)

verb

Definition of step down (from)

as in to leave

to give up (a job or office) with the advent of his 90th birthday, he could no longer resist calls for him to step down from chairmanship of the board

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to resign

to give up (as a position of authority) formally even in the face of a palace revolt, Queen Elizabeth I refused to step down from the throne

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for step down (from)

Verb

Brown previously served as chairman, but caucus rules state that seniority resets if a senator leaves and then is reelected.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
That would leave each side well below the 61 seats needed to form a government with a parliamentary majority.

— Giovanna Dell'Orto, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of leave

Verb

Link resigned from office before pleading guilty to unrelated tax evasion charges in September 2020.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Resigned in September 2025 Storey resigned in September 2025 as pastor of Curé of Ars Catholic Church amid an investigation into a separate issue.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of resign

Verb

Construction crews are continuing work on a major anti-flooding project in the West Avenue neighborhood of Miami Beach despite a lawsuit filed by the contractor, which wants to quit the project.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
The puppeteering incenses Morgan, who storms into Cathcarts to demand his lawyers quit playing games and get on with litigation already.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of quit

Verb

Although dozens of islands were claimed through this process, the overwhelming bulk of these claims were relinquished in the late 20th century as the island countries of Oceania began to achieve independence.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
But the pro-Israel lobby is not relinquishing its political power, evidenced by its move to give more than $9 million to support Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race.

— Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

Naruhito assumed the duties of emperor, a position with ceremonial roles but no political power, after his father Akihito abdicated earlier in the year.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
After both sisters had abdicated planning the memorial, logistical matters—the casket and its transport, the readings, and, yes, the flowers—had fallen to the front desk volunteer of a church my grandmother no longer attended.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of abdicate

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step-down

step down (from)

step-downs

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“Step down (from).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/step%20down%20%28from%29. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of step down (from)

verb

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