step aside

verb

stepped aside; stepping aside; steps aside

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from one's position or occupation : step down

Synonyms

• leave
• retire (from)
• resign (from)
• quit
• step down (from)

Examples of step aside in a Sentence

a newscaster who knew when it was time to step aside from the anchor desk and let a younger person take over

the prime minister was compelled to step aside from his office when it was demonstrated that he had violated the public trust

Recent Examples on the Web

In season 9, which aired from 1982 to 1983, the main Ingalls family took a big step aside, with the Carters moving into the Ingalls family homestead (and the titular little house). —Victoria Edel, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Earlier this month, Yolo County judge stepped aside from presiding over a civil lawsuit tied to the Esparto explosions. —Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Sharpe, 57, stepped aside from the network in April, days after the suit was filed. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025

Despite the company’s issues, calls for Tim Cook to step aside may be premature, others have claimed, given his past success in elevating the company’s stock price by nearly 1500% over his decade-plus tenure. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for step aside

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• certified