resign

1 of 2

verb (1)

re·​sign ri-ˈzīn 

resigned; resigning; resigns

transitive verb

1

: relegate, consign

especially : to give (oneself) over without resistance

resigned herself to her fate

2

: to give up deliberately

especially : to renounce (something, such as a right or position) by a formal act

intransitive verb

1

: to give up one's office or position : quit

2

: to accept something as inevitable : submit

resignedness

ri-ˈzī-nəd-nəs 

noun

resigner

ri-ˈzī-nər 

noun

re-sign

2 of 2

verb (2)

(ˌ)rē-ˈsīn 

re-signed; re-signing; re-signs

transitive verb

: to sign again

especially : to rehire (someone, such as an athlete) by means of a signed contract

intransitive verb

: to sign up again

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• abdicate
• abnegate
• cede
• relinquish
• renounce
• step aside (from)
• step down (from)
• surrender

Choose the Right Synonym for resign

relinquish, yield, resign, surrender, abandon, waive mean to give up completely.

relinquish usually does not imply strong feeling but may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.

relinquished her crown

yield implies concession or compliance or submission to force.

the troops yielded ground grudgingly

resign emphasizes voluntary relinquishment or sacrifice without struggle.

resigned her position

surrender implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist.

surrendered their claims

abandon stresses finality and completeness in giving up.

abandoned all hope

waive implies conceding or forgoing with little or no compulsion.

waived the right to a trial by jury

abdicate, renounce, resign mean to give up a position with no possibility of resuming it.

abdicate implies a giving up of sovereign power or sometimes an evading of responsibility such as that of a parent.

abdicated the throne

renounce may replace it but often implies additionally a sacrifice for a greater end.

renounced her inheritance by marrying a commoner

resign applies to the giving up of an unexpired office or trust.

resigned from the board

Examples of resign in a Sentence

Verb (1)

The senator was forced to resign his position.

The newspaper's editor resigned after the scandal.

He resigned from his job as principal of the school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Keesee resigned from his position at the church in August. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

Sassoon, who replaced U.S. Attorney Damien Williams in the Southern District of New York, declined to drop the case against Adams and resigned. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2025

Verb

While the rest of Cleveland’s rotation is under contract for at least the upcoming campaign, the importance of re-signing Jerome could lead to trading a player like Isaac Okoro. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

In exchange for Agada, 25, Sporting KC will receive $500,000 in general allocation money (GAM) for 2025, as well as an additional $350,000 in GAM in 2026 if Agada re-signs with RSL. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French resigner, from Latin resignare, literally, to unseal, cancel, from re- + signare to sign, seal — more at sign

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1805, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing resign

• resign oneself

Rhymes for resign

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

resign

verb

re·​sign ri-ˈzīn 

1

: to give up by a formal or official act

resign an office

2

: to give up an office or position : quit

3

: to yield to without resistance

resign oneself to disappointment