bow out
Step aside voluntarily
To bow out is to withdraw gracefully from a situation, competition, or commitment.
The image is of an actor taking a final bow before leaving the stage.
Someone might bow out of a race they can't win, bow out of a project due to other obligations, or bow out of a conversation that's becoming heated: She decided to bow out of the election rather than face a bitter primary.
Voluntarily leave office
- retireCease employment permanently
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- step downVoluntarily leave power
- exitWay to leave
leave · quit · relinquish · abdicate · vacate · recuse · disengage · pull out
Produce or relinquish
- deferDelay or submit
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- acquiesceSubmit without protest
- step asideWithdraw from a position
make way · give way · pass the torch · hand over · succession · transition · replacement · successor
Composed and respectable
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- elegantGracefully refined, tasteful
- classyStylishly elegant
- respectfulShowing proper regard
courteous · discreet · understated · tasteful · poised · diplomatic · considerate · polite
resign
Voluntarily leave office
exit · leave · quit · relinquish · abdicate · vacate · recuse · disengage · pull out · back out
yield
Produce or relinquish
step aside · make way · give way · pass the torch · hand over · succession · transition · replacement · successor · changing of the guard
dignified
Composed and respectable
respectful · courteous · discreet · understated · tasteful · poised · diplomatic · considerate · polite · civil
- departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
- giving upgive up, giving up, quit, quitting, surrender
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- refusalsno, decline, no thanks, refuse, nope
- expressions of disassociationnot my problem, none of my business, count me out, leave me out, not affiliated
- quittingquit, resign, resignation, stop, end
bow outjoin in
Begin participating with others
step up · sign up · enter · jump in · get involved
bow outdouble down
Strengthen one's stance
dig in · persevere · soldier on · stay the course · see it through