to dismount / descend
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to dismount
To get down or climb down from something, especially from a bicycle, a horse, or a mountain.
Er musste vom Fahrrad absteigen, weil der Hügel zu steil war.
He had to dismount from his bicycle because the hill was too steep.
to be relegated
In sports, to be moved from a higher to a lower division or league, usually because of poor performance.
Nach einer katastrophalen Saison ist der Verein in die zweite Liga abgestiegen.
After a catastrophic season, the club was relegated to the second division.
to descend
To move from a higher to a lower position; to go down or sink down.
Die Bergsteiger stiegen vorsichtig über das Geröllfeld ins Tal ab.
The mountaineers carefully descended over the scree field into the valley.
to stay
To take lodging and spend the night temporarily in a place, usually in a hotel or hostel.
Auf ihrer Durchreise stiegen die Händler im besten Gasthaus der Stadt ab.
During their journey, the merchants stayed at the best inn in town.
'Absteigen' (to dismount/descend) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab-' comes at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb is not separated.
Der Radfahrer stieg vor dem steilen Berg ab.
The cyclist dismounted before the steep hill.
Because 'absteigen' (to dismount/descend) describes movement or a change of state, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be).
Sie ist vom Pferd abgestiegen.
She dismounted from the horse.
The preposition helps you recognize the meaning: 'von etwas absteigen' (to dismount from something: bicycle, horse), 'in eine Liga absteigen' (to be relegated to a league: sports), or 'in einem Hotel absteigen' (to stay in a hotel: lodging).
Er stieg vom Rad ab, um eine Pause zu machen.
He got off his bike to take a break.
This meaning is used almost exclusively in sports. It describes a team moving to a lower division at the end of a season.
Wenn das Team das nächste Spiel verliert, steigt es ab.
If the team loses the next game, it will be relegated.
In the meaning 'Unterkunft nehmen' (to take lodging), 'absteigen' (to stay) is rather formal or literary. It sounds somewhat more elevated than everyday verbs.
Der Gesandte stieg im vornehmsten Hotel der Stadt ab.
The envoy stayed at the most distinguished hotel in the city.
to get off / to drop out
Aussteigen is used when leaving a vehicle with an interior, such as a train or car. Absteigen is appropriate when getting down from a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse. The key distinction is whether you are getting out of something or down from something.
Am Ziel stieg Mia vom Fahrrad ab.
Mia got off her bicycle at her destination.
Am Ziel stieg Mia aus dem Bus aus.
Mia got off the bus at her destination.
