step down

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step down

1. (idiomatic) To resign from office; to abdicate.
   • 2011 December 14, Angelique Chrisafis, “Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism”, in Guardian‎:

     She now wants to be a Paris MP. But Fillon wants the same Paris seat when he steps down, after next year's election. Both have their eye on the main prize: running for Paris mayor in 2014.

2. To gradually reduce something, a little at a time, as an electronic step down transformer.

• step up

• downstep