Definitions

stand down

[stand-doun] / ˈstændˌdaʊn /

VERB

relinquish

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abandon abdicate cede drop out forgo hand over quit renounce surrender vacate waive withdraw yield

STRONG

abnegate cast desert discard ditch drop dump forbear forsake forswear kick leave release repudiate resign sacrifice shed

WEAK

back down cast off cut loose drop like hot potato kiss good-bye lay aside opt out quit cold turkey retire from swear off take the oath take the pledge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow assert claim continue defend fight hold keep remain retain stay win

STRONG

gather maintain revert take up

WEAK

take

VERB

repeal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abolish abrogate annul cancel dismantle invalidate lift nullify rescind reverse revoke set aside void wipe out withdraw

STRONG

KO backpedal blow countermand kill nix recall renege scrub vacate zap

WEAK

X out back out call off opt out shoot down throw over wash out weasel out worm out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow approve build enforce establish institute keep legalize permit ratify sanction support uphold validate

WEAK

enact pass

VERB

resign

Synonyms

STRONG

abandon abdicate capitulate cede drop fold forgo forsake leave quit relinquish renounce retire secede surrender terminate vacate waive yield

WEAK

bail out bow out cease work demit divorce oneself from drop out end service give notice give up the ship hand in resignation hand over hang it up separate oneself from sign off stand aside step down throw in the towel turn over walk out wash hands of

Antonyms

STRONG

assert begin claim come continue defend do fight hold join keep maintain pursue remain retain win

WEAK

agree take on

NOUN

ceasefire agreement

Synonyms

WEAK

armistice cooling-off period olive branch peace stand-down truce

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The company hoped to launch Starship on Thursday, but ran into a last-minute problem that prompted it to stand down.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

So it is particularly notable that Simons, not a typical ally of Burnham, was the one to stand down for him.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Rayner faced charges of hypocrisy and calls for her to stand down, and she did so after admitting arrangements on her family home in Greater Manchester meant she should have paid a higher rate.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

"We were on a stand down," he told ABS-CBN network in an interview, adding there were no NBI agents inside the Senate when the shooting occurred.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

To think of his story as political fodder, and I'm ashamed of that to begin with, but when I stand down here, and hold his grandmother's hand, the world inverts.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

stand down

Example Sentences

Related Words