stepping down
Vacating a position
Stepping down is voluntarily leaving a position of authority or responsibility: The CEO is stepping down after twenty years.
The phrase suggests a graceful, dignified exit rather than being forced out.
It implies moving from a higher station to a lower one, though often the person simply retires rather than taking a lesser role.
Reduce in status
- demotionReduction in status
- downshiftChange to lower gear
- reassignmentShifting to new duties
- fall from graceLoss of status or reputation
Voluntarily leave office
- abdicateFormally renounce authority
- quitCease doing something
- vacateLeave a place empty
- relinquishVoluntarily give up control
departure · withdrawal · exit · leave · demission · renounce · forfeit · cede
Cease employment permanently
- pensionRetiree's ongoing benefit
- golden yearsLater life stage
- superannuationRetirement savings scheme
- farewellLeave-taking expression
send-off · emeritus · career end · final chapter · last day · retirement party · gold watch · sunset years
Transfer of control
- transitionChange from one state
- successorOne who replaces another
- replacementWhat takes another's place
- passing the torchTransferring responsibility to another
changeover · turnover · heir apparent · incoming · outgoing · new leadership · hand off · baton pass
Delay or submit
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- make wayAllow passage through
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
- humbleUnassuming about oneself
unassuming · sacrifice · magnanimous · letting go · acceptance · graciousness
downgrade
Reduce in status
- demotionReduction in status
- downshiftChange to lower gear
- reassignmentShifting to new duties
resign
Voluntarily leave office
relinquish · departure · withdrawal · exit · leave · demission · renounce · forfeit · cede · concession
retire
Cease employment permanently
- pensionRetiree's ongoing benefit
- golden yearsLater life stage
- superannuationRetirement savings scheme
farewell · send-off · emeritus · career end · final chapter · last day · retirement party · gold watch · sunset years · post-career
handover
Transfer of control
- transitionChange from one state
- successorOne who replaces another
- replacementWhat takes another's place
passing the torch · changeover · turnover · heir apparent · incoming · outgoing · new leadership · hand off · baton pass · changing of the guard
defer
Delay or submit
humble · unassuming · sacrifice · magnanimous · letting go · acceptance · graciousness
- Royal Exitsabdication, deposition, dethronement, overthrow, ouster
- royal successionthrone, succession, line of succession, order of succession, succession line
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse
- giving upgive up, giving up, quit, quitting, surrender
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- Leaving Officeresignation, abdication, departure, exit, quitting
stepping downstepping up
Assuming more responsibility
taking over · taking the reins · taking charge · moving up · rising
stepping downgetting the boot
stepping downstepping up
Assuming more responsibility
climbing up · ascending · going up · mounting · rising
down, step, steps, downs, stepping, stepped, downed, downing, step down