What does "resign" mean?
To give up; to relinquish ownership of.
Resign
/ɹiːˈsaɪn/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To give up; to relinquish ownership of.
- Grammar: resign is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: quit, submit, abandon, abdicate.
- Useful contrasts: mayoral staff, occupied, chair the board.
- Usage evidence: You should do the honorable thing and resign.
How to use "resign"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "resign" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "resign" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "resign" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "resign" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "resign" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "quit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "resign", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To give up; to relinquish ownership of. transitive
"And if the perfection of well-speaking might bring any glorie sutable unto a great personage, Scipio and Lelius would never have resigned the honour of their Comedies[…]unto an Affrican servant[…]."
- 2 Alternative spelling of re-sign. alt-of, alternative, proscribed
"Lastly, a note that I have resigned my GPG key to extend the expiration date."
- 3 accept as inevitable wordnet
- 4 To hand over (something to someone), place into the care or control of another. transitive
- 5 part with a possession or right wordnet
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 To voluntarily leave (a job or position), in particular a hard-fought position of high status. intransitive, transitive
"I am resigning in protest of the unfair treatment of our employees."
- 7 leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily wordnet
- 8 To submit passively; to give up as hopeless or inevitable. transitive
"He had no choice but to resign the game and let his opponent become the champion."
- 9 give up or retire from a position wordnet
Example
"You should do the honorable thing and resign."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "resign"?
Common synonyms include: quit, submit, abandon, abdicate, abdicate, abdicated.
How do you use "resign" in a sentence?
You should do the honorable thing and resign.
How do you pronounce "resign"?
Pronounced /ɹiːˈsaɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Anglo-Norman resigner, Middle French resigner, and its source, Latin resignāre (“to unseal, annul, assign, resign”), from re- + signāre (“to seal, stamp”). Piecewise doublet of re-sign.
Etymology 2
From re- + sign.