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to leave office

to leave office

53 4.2
Stop being a leader with official power, for example a government official or company boss
  • phrasal verb
  • Literature
translation icon : dejar el cargo
  • The mayor is planning to leave office at the end of his term to pursue other opportunities.
  • members leave office
  • presidents leave office
  • justices leave office

And then they leave office and they're just regular people again.

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Examples

  • House members have become less active in recent years, including those who have left office.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Since Roosevelt, the only presidents to leave office with high approval ratings have been Eisenhower and Reagan.

    Academic text (1991)
  • But that he would be glad to accept it once he left office...

  • But for the purpose of this conversation, you know, let's say that he is going to leave office when his term is up.

  • Shortly after leaving office, he was offered a business arrangement that might have made him rich.

    Academic text (1993)
  • On average, fifty-two House members leave office during each Congress.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The president who appointed Kirkwood, William M. Daily, left office under a cloud.

    Academic text (2000)
  • There was a budget surplus when Clinton left office and when Bush entered office.

    Blog text (8)
  • Biden will leave office with half his priorities unmet, right?

  • However, the real sea change in the public perception of the CIA came after Nixon left office.

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

to quit
vsto leave office
788 1.2

To leave a job or position

is focused on surrendering authority or responsibility rather than general quitting
to resign
vsto leave office
  • Formal
533 3.7

Leave a job or office by giving notice

is specific to leaving authority or responsibility rather than any post
to depart
vsto leave office
176 1.3

To leave a place to start a journey

is specific to surrendering authority or responsibility rather than simple departure
to step down
vsto leave office
148 3.3

Give up an important job so someone else can take over

is about leaving a position of authority broadly rather than only important jobs
to stand down
vsto leave office
123 5.1

To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to

is broader, meaning voluntary leaving of responsibility not only ordered withdrawal
to retire
vsto leave office
82 2.6

Make someone leave their job, often because of age or a serious event

is a voluntary departure from authority, not mainly an enforced removal
to vacate
vsto leave office
52 4.5

Leave a place or job so it is free for someone else

is about giving up leadership or responsibility rather than just making space
to abdicate
vsto leave office
  • Formal
23 8.0

To give up a position of power, for example a king or queen

covers leaving authority in business or government rather than only sovereign power
to bow out
vsto leave office
20 4.9

To stop doing a job or role politely

is about leaving authority or responsibility generally, not only graceful exits
to leave the job
vsto leave office
6 2.5

To stop working at a job because you want something different

focuses on giving up responsibility or authority rather than ordinary employment exit
to abnegate
vsto leave office
  • Formal
9.9

To officially give up power, rights, or a position

is the general act of leaving an authoritative role rather than formal renunciation
to hang up one's hat
vsto leave office
  • Informal
7.7

To stop working after a long time

is about leaving a position of responsibility rather than retiring from work generally
to hang up one's boots
vsto leave office
  • UK
7.5

To stop working in your job, especially as an athlete

is the act of leaving authority in organisations rather than ending any career

Antonyms

Begin work in an official job after being elected or appointed

to enter
  • Formal
31 2.5

To begin duties in an official position such as prime minister

How Official

to depose
31 7.4
to retire
874 2.0
to leave office
  • Literature
53 4.2
to resign
  • Formal
533 3.7
to keep on
24 2.2

Surface Forms

leave office infinitive
leaving office present participle
leaves office third person singular
left office past participle

Morphology

leave + office

The meaning 'to give up or retire from a position' is directly compositional from 'leave' (to depart/quit) + 'office' (an official post), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the sense of departing from a role. While there can be surface ambiguity with physically leaving an office space, the institutional/political sense is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common combination and therefore transparent.

Etymology

Leave office paints a simple picture: a leader packs a box of papers, walks out of their office, and hands in keys as they leave for the last time. So, it now means 'to give up or retire from a position of authority or responsibility'.