step aside

VERB

avoid

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert bypass dodge escape evade fend off shun sidestep ward off

STRONG

abstain circumvent deflect desist ditch divert duck elude eschew flee hide jump obviate recoil shake shirk shy skip skirt weave withdraw

WEAK

circumlocute cold-shoulder fake out give the slip hold off keep clear lay low run for cover shake and bake shake off shrink from shuffle off skip out on skip town stay away stay out steer clear of turn aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

face meet

STRONG

allow help permit stay take on

WEAK

seek want

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One that comes to mind is whether Joe stayed on too long because his friends and family didn’t want him to step aside.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

Peter Dowd, who has represented Bootle since 2015, said speculation he would step aside for the Greater Manchester mayor was "unfounded" and his intention to remain as the constituency's MP was "absolutely unequivocal".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

“You have to discipline yourself to step aside and let your kid do it,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

I step aside to allow her to pass, not so far aside, just enough that she can slip through the seam between my chest and the doorframe.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

step aside

Example Sentences

Related Words