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STEP DOWN
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of
Example:
de-escalate a crisis
Synonyms:
de-escalate; step down; weaken
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "step down" is one way to...):
decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
step-down (the act of decreasing or reducing something)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Give up or retire from a position
Example:
The chairman resigned over the financial scandal
Synonyms:
leave office; quit; resign; step down
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "step down" is one way to...):
depart; leave; pull up stakes (remove oneself from an association with or participation in)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "step down"):
give up; renounce; resign; vacate (leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily)
retire (go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position)
top out (give up one's career just as one becomes very successful)
fall (lose office or power)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
