resigned
Americanadjective
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
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of resigned
Explanation
When you sadly accept something that's disagreeable, you're resigned. You might give a resigned sigh as you wait in the cold for a bus that's late again. Being resigned means you've given up or surrendered to an unpleasant reality and the fact that you can't change it. While some kids cry when the babysitter tells them it's bedtime, others are resigned to brushing their teeth and putting on their pajamas. And though most people who live in cold climates are resigned to the frigid winter weather, there are always a few who escape to tropical beaches instead.
Vocabulary lists containing resigned
Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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List 8
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The Cat I Never Named
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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.
Resigned to their fate, they hope the work will enable their children to go to school and learn a better trade.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Resigned to his fate in the present and, perhaps, fearful for his position in the future.
From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025
Resigned to the sideline for nearly a decade after a tumultuous entry into the league, the quarterback received a long-awaited second chance when the Seattle Seahawks traded away franchise pillar Russell Wilson.
From Washington Post • Dec. 1, 2022
Troy Percival, RHP: Resigned as coach of UC Riverside in 2020 to spend more time with his family and help his son reach the majors.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2022
Resigned to his fate, he gazed into the bear’s eyes but found no aggression—only curiosity.
From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen
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.
