resign
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for resign, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To formally give up a job or position.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use resign
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
resign from a position
resign oneself to
resign in protest
Etymology
From Latin resignare, "to unseal, annul" — from re- plus signare, "to seal, stamp".
Full origin of resign →Frequently asked questions
What does “resign” mean?
The word “resign” means to formally give up a job or position.
How do you pronounce “resign”?
“Resign” is pronounced rih-ZYN (/ɹɪˈzaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “resign” in a sentence?
Here is “resign” used in a sentence: “The minister resigned after the scandal broke.”
What is another word for “resign”?
Words with a similar meaning to “resign” include quit.
What part of speech is “resign”?
“Resign” is a verb.
Where does the word “resign” come from?
The word “resign” comes from Latin. From Latin resignare, "to unseal, annul" — from re- plus signare, "to seal, stamp".
Is “resign” a common word?
“Resign” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “resign” have?
“Resign” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to formally give up a job or position.
What is the difference between resign and retire?
To resign is to formally give up a job or position, often to leave for another role or reason. To retire is to stop working altogether, usually at the end of a career. You can resign at any age, but retiring implies leaving the workforce.
What is the difference between resign and quit?
Both mean to leave a job, but "resign" is more formal and usually involves official notice, while "quit" is more casual and general. A chief executive resigns; a worker might simply say they quit.
What is the difference between resign and re-sign?
"Resign" means to give up a position, while "re-sign," with a hyphen, means to sign something again, such as a player re-signing a contract. They look almost identical but are opposite in effect, so the hyphen and context matter.
