stands down
Yields the position
Stands down means to withdraw from a position, contest, or state of readiness.
A candidate stands down from a race, yielding to another.
Military forces stand down when returning from alert status to normal operations.
The phrase implies stepping back voluntarily or by order: The police stood down after the protest dispersed.
- resignsFormally leaves a position
- disengagesSeparates from attachment
- abdicatesFormally surrenders sovereignty
- bows outVoluntarily removes oneself
- demobilizesReleases from active duty
relinquishes · exits · steps aside · yields · calls it quits · gives up · diffuses · deactivates · retires · takes a back seat · pacifies · vacates · backs off · retreats · falls back · suspends · departs · recuses
stands downtakes office
Begins governmental role
takes over · steps up · takes charge · takes the reins · ascends
stands downstands one's ground
stands up · doubles down · digs in · confronts · stands up to
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