to step down / assign / wipe off
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to step down
To voluntarily give up an office, position, or function and hand it over to a successor. Also used figuratively for leaving a stage or scene.
Nach der Wahlniederlage trat der Parteivorsitzende von seinem Amt ab.
After the election defeat, the party leader stepped down from his office.
to assign / transfer
To formally transfer a right, claim, such as a monetary claim, or property to another person or institution.
Um den Kredit zu sichern, musste er seine zukünftigen Gehaltsansprüche an die Bank abtreten.
To secure the loan, he had to assign his future salary claims to the bank.
to wipe one's feet/shoes
To clean one's shoes on a mat or grate before entering a building.
Bitte tritt dir vor der Tür die Schuhe ab, es ist draußen sehr matschig.
Please wipe your shoes before coming in; it's very muddy outside.
to wear down
To wear something down through frequent walking on it, making it smooth or uneven.
Die Stufen der alten Steintreppe waren in der Mitte schon ganz abgetreten.
The steps of the old stone staircase were already completely worn down in the middle.
to pass away
A euphemistic and elevated expression meaning to die; to disappear from the stage of life.
Nach einem langen und erfüllten Leben ist er im Alter von 90 Jahren leise abgetreten.
After a long and fulfilled life, he quietly passed away at the age of 90.
'Abtreten' is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause, but remains attached to the verb in a subordinate clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in the middle.
Der Minister tritt heute von seinem Amt ab.
The minister is stepping down from his office today.
The verb consists of 'ab-' (away) and 'treten' (to step). Many meanings can be derived metaphorically: you 'step away' from an office, from a right, or from the stage of life.
Er musste seine Forderungen an den Geschäftspartner abtreten.
He had to assign his claims to the business partner.
When someone gives up a position, the preposition 'von' (from) or the conjunction 'als' (as) is often used. Typical formulations are 'von einem Amt abtreten' (to step down from an office) or 'als Vorsitzender abtreten' (to step down as chairperson).
Der Präsident trat nach dem Skandal von seinem Amt ab.
The president stepped down from his office after the scandal.
When you pass on a right or claim, you use the structure 'etwas (Akkusativ) an jemanden (Akkusativ) abtreten' (to assign something to someone).
Der Autor hat die Rechte an seinem Buch an den Verlag abgetreten.
The author assigned the rights to his book to the publisher.
To describe cleaning one's shoes, the verb is used reflexively with a dative pronoun: 'sich die Schuhe abtreten' (to wipe one's shoes). The dative pronoun indicates whose shoes they are.
Kannst du dir bitte die Füße abtreten, bevor du reinkommst?
Could you please wipe your feet before you come in?
In the meaning 'sterben' (to die), 'abtreten' (to pass away) is a euphemism, that is, a softened paraphrase. It is used in a very formal or literary style.
Der große Schauspieler ist gestern von der Bühne des Lebens abgetreten.
The great actor passed away from the stage of life yesterday.
to transmit / transfer
Both verbs can express transferring a right or claim to another institution. „Übertragen“ is the general term and describes the transfer, while „abtreten“ refers to the formal assignment of a right or claim. Use „abtreten“ when this formal legal transfer is meant.
Der Verein trat die Forderung formell an eine andere Organisation ab.
The association formally assigned the claim to another organization.
Der Verein übertrug die Forderung an eine andere Organisation.
The association transferred the claim to another organization.
