Definition

Verb: To formally give up or retire from a position of employment or official duty; to step down from a job or office.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of voluntarily or involuntarily ending one's tenure in a specific role, especially a formal, professional, or elected position. It is a formal and neutral term.

Examples

• The Prime Minister announced she would leave office at the end of the current term.
• After the scandal, the CEO was forced to leave office.
• He decided to leave office to spend more time with his family.

Advanced Usage

• "to leave office under a cloud": To resign or depart from a position amid scandal, controversy, or failure.
  • The minister left office under a cloud of corruption allegations.
• "to leave office voluntarily/involuntarily": Specifies whether the departure was by choice or due to external pressure.
  • She left office voluntarily after a long and successful career.

Variants and Related Words

• Resign (verb): To voluntarily give up a position. (Often used interchangeably with "leave office," but "resign" strongly implies a voluntary act.)
• Step down (phrasal verb): To resign from a high-level position.
• Retire (verb): To leave one's job, typically at the end of one's career or upon reaching a certain age.

Synonyms

• Resign
• Step down
• Quit (a job)
• Depart from office

Antonyms

• Take office
• Assume office
• Be inaugurated

Related Phrases

• Leave one's post: A similar phrase, often used for military or specific duty stations.
  • The general was ordered to leave his post immediately.

Verb

1. give up or retire from a position
   • The Secretary of the Navy will leave office next month
   • The chairman resigned over the financial scandal