stand down

Q: Is it correct to say "He stood down his position."?

No — say "He stood down from his position.". the verb is intransitive; you stand down 'from' a role rather than standing the role down.

Infinitive

stand down

Past

stood down

Past participle

stood down

Definition

phrasal verb. to leave an important job or position so that someone else can take over. It is often used when a leader or politician decides to quit.

phrasal verb. to resign from a position of authority or a formal office. The verb is intransitive and often implies a voluntary withdrawal, though it can occur under pressure.

simple

“The chairman decided to stand down after ten years.”

contextual

“Following the scandal, the minister was forced to stand down to avoid further damage to the party.”

complex

“The CEO announced her intention to stand down at the end of the fiscal year, triggering an immediate search for a suitable successor.”

commonly used in political, corporate, or military contexts.

contrast with 'step down', which is a near-synonym; 'stand down' is more common in British English and can also mean to leave a state of military readiness.

He stood down his position.

He stood down from his position.

the verb is intransitive; you stand down 'from' a role rather than standing the role down.

Particles

down

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

stand + down

quit resign step down withdraw

take officeremain stay on

VERB