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.
'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 die
'sterben' and 'abtreten' can both talk about the end of life. 'sterben' is direct, neutral, and general. In this meaning, 'abtreten' is an elevated or euphemistic way to say it. It sounds as if someone is leaving the stage of life. You are more likely to find it in texts, speeches, or literary phrasing. In everyday language, people usually say 'sterben' because it is simpler and clearer.
Der berühmte Schauspieler trat nach einem langen Leben von der Bühne des Lebens ab.
After a long life, the famous actor departed from the stage of life.
Die alte Katze ist am Wochenende zu Hause gestorben.
The old cat died at home over the weekend.