step aside
Idioms-
Move out of the way, as in Please step aside—I've got my arms full of groceries . This usage was first recorded in 1530.
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Withdraw, make room for a replacement, as in The senior researcher decided to step aside for a younger colleague . [Second half of 1900s]
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.
He remained in the Assembly until 1996 when he was elected to the state Senate, serving until 2004 when term limits forced him to step aside.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
When Oleksandr Usyk vacated the IBF title and Frank Sanchez agreed to step aside, Itauma's fight with Hrgovic was elevated into a world-title contest.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
That approach avoids unnecessary conflict during her lifetime while preserving your right to step aside when the time comes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
It will also cover "why I chose to run for reelection, and why I chose to step aside," Biden said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Darius step aside to talk to someone else, and I’m both relieved and embarrassed.
From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi
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.
