step aside

verb

stepped aside; stepping aside; steps aside

intransitive verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In more recent times, Salah has typically stepped aside to allow others to have a go. Gregg Evans, New York Times, 8 May 2025 His broken promise, followed by his months-long refusal to step aside despite brutal poll numbers and the urging of his party, meant no Dems got a real chance to offer up a different vision. S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025 While Trump didn't explicitly endorse any specific plan to circumvent this rule, some have speculated that a scenario could unfold where Vice President JD Vance becomes president in 2028 and steps aside to allow Trump to reclaim the office. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Some aging Democrats are proactively stepping aside. Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for step aside

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of step aside was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Step aside.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20aside. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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