# resigned

/ɹiˈsaɪnd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/resigned
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. accepting a bad situation

adjective · CEFR B2

accepting that something unpleasant is going to happen because you cannot change it.

For teachers: characterised by a state of passive or quiet acceptance of an unpleasant but inevitable situation.

- He gave a resigned sigh when he saw the long queue at the bank.
- Faced with the inevitable closure of the factory, the workers adopted a resigned attitude, focusing on their severance packages rather than protesting the decision.

Usage: often followed by the preposition 'to'.

## Examples

- He gave a resigned sigh when he saw the long queue.
- After the third rejection, she felt resigned to the fact that she wouldn't get the job.
- The staff stood in resigned silence as the manager announced the store's permanent closure, having long suspected that the business was no longer viable.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.