STEP DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does step down mean? 

• STEP DOWN (verb)
  The verb STEP DOWN has 2 senses:

1. give up or retire from a position

2. reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of

  Familiarity information: STEP DOWN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEP DOWN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give up or retire from a position

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

leave office; quit; resign; step down

Context example:

The chairman resigned over the financial scandal

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

de-escalate; step down; weaken

Context example:

de-escalate a crisis

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)

 Context examples 

And now, you've spoke up free, and I'll take it kind if you'd step down into that there cabin and get me a—well, a—shiver my timbers!

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Now, Soames, I am going to ask you to have the great kindness to go up to the room of young Gilchrist, and to ask him to step down into yours.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Come, now,” said George, “you don't fool this crew no more. You're a funny man, by your account; but you're over now, and you'll maybe step down off that barrel and help vote.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

I know how keen you are upon these things, and I would take it as a great favour if you would step down to Appledore Towers, and give us the benefit of your advice.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)