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Synonyms

resign

American  
[ri-zahyn] / rɪˈzaɪn /

verb (used without object)

  1. to give up an office or position, often formally (often followed byfrom ).

    to resign from the presidency.

    Synonyms:
    withdraw
  2. to submit; yield.

    to resign before the inevitable.


verb (used with object)

  1. to give up (an office, position, etc.), often formally.

    Synonyms:
    leave, quit, renounce, abdicate
  2. to relinquish (a right, claim, agreement, etc.).

    Synonyms:
    cede, surrender, give up, forgo
  3. to give or sign over, as to the control or care of another.

    She resigned her child to an adoption agency.

  4. to submit (oneself, one's mind, etc.) without resistance.

resign British  
/ rɪˈzaɪn /

verb

  1. to give up tenure of (a job, office, etc)

  2. (tr) to reconcile (oneself) to; yield

    to resign oneself to death

  3. (tr) to give up (a right, claim, etc); relinquish

    he resigned his claim to the throne

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does resign mean? Resign most commonly means to give up one’s job or position.When used this way, resign can be used without an object, as in He resigned yesterday, or with one, as in She is expected to resign her position. In its general sense, resign means to yield or submit, as in When he knew he couldn’t possibly win the match, he decided to resign. Example: They say he resigned on his own, but I think he was forced out.

Other Word Forms

  • resigner noun

Etymology

Origin of resign

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English resignen, from Middle French resigner, from Latin resignāre “to open, release, cancel,” literally, “to seal back,” from re- re- + signāre “to mark, seal” ( sign )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One of them, Andrew Barry, said he would also resign from the party in a row over other candidates being "parachuted in" to his area.

From BBC

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the video message showed "a lack of compassion", while politicians in French-speaking Quebec urged Rousseau to resign.

From BBC

Initially resigned to the assessment they had been given, the couple joined Surrogacy UK in the hope of finding a surrogate who would be willing to use their own eggs.

From BBC

Looney eventually resigned over past relationships with colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rousseau had faced calls to resign after delivering his condolences in English only.

From BBC