step aside

verb

stepped aside; stepping aside; steps aside

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms of step aside

• 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

Whether taking leave stripped him of that protection — and whether his latest request to step aside indefinitely would do so again — remains disputed among Mexican legal scholars. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

According to the memoir, longtime aide Steve Ricchetti warned her husband that a group of Democratic senators was preparing a letter urging him to step aside. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Pressed on the pain of stepping aside, Kimbrel opened up a little more. — Sam Blum, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

The project has spent 12 frames on both genre-specific lists and has only stepped aside from the loftiest spot for one moment in both cases. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for step aside

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