resign

[ri-zahyn]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• resigner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of resign¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of resign¹

C14: from Old French resigner , from Latin resignāre to unseal, invalidate, destroy, from _re- + signāre to seal; see _sign

Example Sentences

"I will do my duty and I will not be a problem," Lecornu vowed a day after President Emmanuel Macron named him back into the job -- just four days after Lecornu had resigned from it.

Read more on Barron's

Erroll Southers confirmed his plans to resign through a spokesperson on Friday, ending a stormy two-year tenure on the influential civilian panel that watches over the LAPD.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They resigned from their ministerial positions in government to take on their boss.

Read more on BBC

At the time, Lord Mandelson was a backbench MP, having twice resigned from the cabinet, but still a force in Labour.

Read more on BBC

He recalls struggling with the question of whether a Catholic judge could uphold a constitutional right to abortion or should instead resign altogether.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When To Use

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.