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step down

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step down

 (from something)

1. Lit. to come down from something; to alight from something. Please step down from the platform. she stepped down and went back to her chair.

2. Fig. to resign a job or a responsibility. The mayor stepped down from office last week. It's unusual for a mayor to step down.

See also: down, step

step something down

to reduce the intensity or amount of something by one step or grade. See if you can step the lights down a little. step down the lights just a little more.

See also: down, step

step down

to stop doing a job or stop having a position She stepped down as captain of the team.

See also: down, step

step down

1. Resign from office, as in He threatened to step down if they continued to argue with him. [Late 1800s]

2. Reduce, especially in stages, as in They were stepping down the voltage. [c. 1900] Also see step up, def. 1.

See also: down, step

step down

v.

1. To descend with a step: The speaker stepped down from the platform. The carpenter stepped down off the ladder.

2. To resign from a high post: The mayor stepped down after two years in office.

3. To reduce, especially in stages: The scientists stepped down the temperature in the chamber and repeated the test. The transformer steps the power down from 110 volts to 24 volts.

See also: down, step