resign
rih-ZYN
Resign (verb) means to formally give up a job or position. Example: “The minister resigned after the scandal broke.”
verb
1
To formally give up a job or position.
"The minister resigned after the scandal broke."
"She resigned from her role as manager to start her own business."
2
To accept an unwelcome situation as unavoidable (usually "resign oneself").
"He resigned himself to a long wait at the airport."
"After the third delay, we resigned ourselves to missing the start of the film."
"She has resigned herself to the fact that the repairs will take weeks."
How to use resign
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "re-sign" (to sign again, e.g. a contract) — same spelling without the hyphen but a different meaning.
Common pairings
resign from a position
resign oneself to
resign in protest
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- resigns
- Past tense
- resigned
- Archaic forms
- resignest, resignedst, resigneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The minister _____ after the scandal broke.
Etymology
From Latin resignare, "to unseal, annul" — from re- plus signare, "to seal, stamp".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for resign
See all rhymes for 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.
