resign

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.

Resign has been used to mean “quit” or “yield” since at least the 1300s. It is ultimately derived from the Latin verb resignāre, meaning “give up” or “unseal, invalidate, destroy.” Resignāre is formed from the prefix re-, meaning “again,” and signāre, meaning “to seal.”

When used in the sense of leaving a position, resign is synonymous with quit, but the two words can imply different things. To say that someone quit their job often (though not always) implies that they left because they didn’t like something about it. Someone can resign due to negative circumstances, but the word itself doesn’t imply this without additional context. For example, a politician might resign due to a scandal, or an employee might resign to protest a policy they consider unethical. But resigning doesn’t always involve negative circumstances. A person might resign because they’re moving or they want to change their career.

Sometimes, people are given the option to resign instead of being fired. This especially happens in governmental or political appointments.

A person who has resigned is often said to have tendered (or given) their resignation.

Resign can also mean “to give oneself up to a feeling or circumstance,” as in I just have to resign myself to the fact that I’ll never be a professional bowler.

What are some other forms related to resign?

• resignation (noun)
• resigned (adjective)
• resignedly (adverb)
• resigner (noun)

What are some synonyms for resign?

• quit
• step down
• vacate
• yield
• submit

What are some words that share a root or word element with resign? 

• signature
• redeem

What are some words that often get used in discussing resign?

• position
• office
• commission
• leave
• effective
• immediately
• suddenly
• abruptly

What are some words resign may be commonly confused with?

• re-sign

Although anyone can resign from any job, the word is most commonly associated with politicians.

Victor Matemadanda said Prosecutor General Kumbirai Hodzi must resign from his job if he believes there are obstacles standing in the way of fighting corruption.
…I say ED must resign if he believes sanctions are the obstacles standing in the way of developing the nation.

— Solomon Harudzibwi (@S_Harudzibwi) March 3, 2020

.@LabourRichard says he will not stand down on the back of Scottish Labour's disastrous European election results. He says there were no calls for him to resign at this afternoon's MSP group meeting.

— Alistair Grant (@alistairkgrant) May 28, 2019

Boris Johnson fails to answer backbench MP's question: if Cabinet Office Inquiry finds Priti Patel breached Ministerial Code will she be expected to resign? He simply reiterates support for her saying "I'm sticking by her", but says a couple of minutes later: "I loathe bullying"

— Danny Shaw (@DannyShawBBC) March 4, 2020

Is resign used correctly in the following sentence?

The majority of employees threatened to resign in protest of the new dress code.