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Synonyms

resigned

American  
[ri-zahynd] / rɪˈzaɪnd /

adjective

  1. submissive or acquiescent.

  2. characterized by or indicative of resignation.

resigned British  
/ rɪˈzaɪnd, rɪˈzaɪnɪdlɪ /

adjective

  1. characteristic of or proceeding from an attitude of resignation; acquiescent or submissive

"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 resigned mean? Resigned is an adjective that means having an accepting, unresisting attitude or in a state of submission.A person who is resigned is often in a state of realization that the negative situation that is happening to them will continue to happen and that they can’t do anything to stop it.The word is especially used in phrases like resigned to one’s fate or resigned to the fact that (something is happening).Resigned is also the past tense of the verb resign. Resign most commonly means to quit a job, but it can also mean to submit or yield. The noun form resignation can mean a state of submission or acquiescence, as in There is a sense of resignation in the room now that most of the votes are in and there doesn’t appear to be any path to victory. Example: Even if I ace the test, it won’t bring up my average enough, so I’m resigned to the fact that I’m going to fail the class.

Other Word Forms

  • resignedly adverb
  • resignedness noun
  • self-resigned adjective
  • unresigned adjective

Etymology

Origin of resigned

First recorded in 1645–55; resign + -ed 2

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.

It’s estimated that half of the department’s attorneys—roughly 5,500—were either fired or resigned since she became attorney general.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

Pieter Elbers resigned as IndiGo's CEO on 10 March with immediate effect, citing personal reasons.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Looney eventually resigned over past relationships with colleagues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The alleged money laundering came to light in April 2022, and Peng resigned later that year after a search warrant related to the investigation was served at her home and workplace, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Fuller resigned that position in July 1995, citing differences with the School Board on a variety of issues.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.