stand-down

or stand·down

[ stand-doun ]

noun

1. Military. a temporary cessation of offensive actions; cease-fire; truce:

   a stand-down for the Christmas holidays.

2. a work stoppage or layoff.

stand down

verb

1. intr to resign or withdraw, esp in favour of another
2. intr to leave the witness box in a court of law after giving evidence
3. to go or be taken off duty

Word History and Origins

Origin of stand-down¹

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase stand down

Example Sentences

But after President Biden was elected, Hegseth left the military, complaining he was ordered to stand down from his duty guarding Biden’s inauguration because top brass dubbed him a “white nationalist” and an “extremist.”

From Los Angeles Times

Justin Welby has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury after facing increasing pressure to stand down over his failure to report prolific child abuser John Smyth.

From BBC

On Monday the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen Ann Harlety, became the most senior member of the clergy to call for the Archbishop to stand down.

From BBC

The most senior civil servant at the Foreign Office, Sir Philip Barton, is to stand down in January, the BBC has learned.

From BBC

DeSantis can’t run for a third term as governor in 2026, because state law requires those who have been elected to two successive terms to stand down at least for one election cycle.

From Los Angeles Times