Use resignation in a sentence by understanding its two main meanings. “She accepted the delay with resignation” shows emotional acceptance of something you can’t change. “He submitted his resignation letter today” refers to quitting a job. The word “resignation” works as both a noun describing reluctant acceptance and the formal act of leaving employment.
Most people searching this want real examples they can learn from rather than abstract definitions. Whether you’re writing an email, essay, or trying to improve your English usage, seeing the word in various contexts helps you grasp its meaning and application better.
The Cambridge Dictionary and Merriam-Webster both list these dual meanings. The context surrounding the word determines which definition applies in each situation.
Understanding the Two Meanings of Resignation
The word “resignation” carries completely different meanings depending on how you use it. Recognizing which definition applies helps you construct clear sentences and understand what others mean when they use this word in conversation or writing.
Resignation as Emotional Acceptance
The first meaning describes accepting something unpleasant that you can’t change. This form of resignation involves giving up resistance and adapting to difficult circumstances even when you’d rather things were different.
This emotional definition appears in sentences like these:
- She faced her illness with quiet resignation
- The team accepted their defeat with resignation after fighting hard all season
- He sighed with resignation when hearing the project had been canceled
- There was resignation in her voice as she agreed to the new arrangement
- The workers showed resignation about the unexpected pay cut
This usage conveys passive acceptance rather than active choice. You’re not happy about the situation but you’ve stopped fighting against it. The emotional undertone suggests reluctance, sadness, or weariness that comes from recognizing you can’t change certain outcomes.
Resignation as Leaving Employment
The second meaning refers to formally quitting your job. This type of resignation represents the official act of ending your employment relationship with an employer through proper notification.
Employment-related resignation sentences include examples like:
- She handed in her resignation yesterday after accepting a better offer
- His resignation becomes effective in two weeks as stated in the letter
- The CEO’s resignation shocked the board during the emergency meeting
- I’m writing to inform you of my resignation from my current position
- The resignation letter cited better opportunities and career growth
This usage appears primarily in professional contexts. You’ll encounter it in business news, HR communications, and workplace conversations. Understanding opportunities across basic industries often influences when people decide to submit their resignations.
Common Sentence Structures Using Resignation
The word “resignation” fits into various sentence patterns and grammatical positions. Learning these structures helps you use the word naturally in different writing situations without sounding awkward or forced.
When “resignation” starts the sentence as the main subject, it becomes the actor or focal point. Examples include “Resignation filled the room after the announcement” or “Her resignation surprised everyone at the meeting.” These structures work well when resignation itself is the main topic being discussed.
More commonly though, “resignation” appears as the object receiving action from the subject. You’ll see sentences like “He expressed his resignation to the situation” or “The manager accepted her resignation reluctantly.” This structure appears frequently in both emotional and employment contexts.
The word also works in prepositional phrases that add detail to sentences. Common examples include “She spoke with resignation about the changes” or “He wrote his letter of resignation carefully.” These phrases modify verbs or nouns while adding emotional context or specific details about employment endings. Following professional standards includes understanding proper resignation procedures and communication.
Formal vs. Informal Resignation Sentences
The formality of your sentence affects how you use “resignation” and what words surround it. Professional contexts demand different language choices than casual conversations with friends or family.
Formal resignation sentences appear in business writing, official documents, and professional communications. Something like “Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation from the position of Sales Manager” sounds appropriately professional for workplace use. Research from SHRM shows proper resignation communication prevents workplace conflicts.
Informal resignation examples work better in casual speech and personal writing. Saying “I’m thinking about handing in my resignation next month” or “He quit yesterday and his resignation was a long time coming” both sound natural in everyday conversation without seeming stuffy or overly formal.
Academic writing about resignation requires objective, analytical language. A sentence like “The study examined factors influencing employee resignation rates across industries” maintains scholarly tone appropriate for research papers. Understanding resume formatting helps across all professional documents including resignation letters.
Resignation in Different Tenses
While “resignation” itself is a noun that doesn’t change form, the verbs accompanying it do change across tenses. This affects sentence meaning and timing in important ways.
Present tense resignation sentences describe current situations happening now. Examples include “Her resignation is effective today” or “I feel resignation about this outcome.” Both communicate something occurring in the present moment.
Past tense structures describe completed actions that have already happened. You might write “She submitted her resignation last week” or “They accepted his departure with resignation.” Both refer to finished events in the past.
Future tense indicates upcoming resignations that haven’t occurred yet. Sentences like “His resignation will take effect next month” or “She plans to announce her resignation tomorrow” both project forward to events that will happen. Like knowing when to follow up on applications, timing your resignation communication correctly improves professional relationships.
Common Collocations with Resignation
Certain words frequently pair with “resignation” creating natural-sounding phrases that native English speakers use instinctively. Learning these collocations improves your English fluency and makes your writing sound more professional.
Verbs Commonly Used with Resignation
Specific verbs appear repeatedly with “resignation” in professional and casual contexts. The most common ones include:
- Submit resignation (most formal and professional)
- Accept resignation (used by employers)
- Tender resignation (formal British English)
- Announce resignation (for public or organizational communication)
- Withdraw resignation (when changing your mind)
- Hand in resignation (casual but professional)
These verb-noun combinations sound natural to native speakers because they’ve heard them used together countless times. According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, learning collocations helps language learners sound more fluent.
Adjectives That Modify Resignation
Certain adjectives frequently describe resignation, adding specific meaning or context. Common ones include immediate resignation, reluctant resignation, forced resignation, voluntary resignation, unexpected resignation, sudden resignation, and graceful resignation. Each adjective changes how we understand the resignation being described.
Resignation in Professional Contexts
Workplace resignation carries significant weight because how you discuss leaving employment affects professional relationships and future opportunities. The language you choose when resigning sends messages about your professionalism and character.
Professional resignation sentences maintain respect while clearly communicating your departure. Something like “I am writing to formally submit my resignation from my position as Marketing Director effective two weeks from today” hits all professional notes without being overly complicated. Studies from the Harvard Business Review show how resignation communication impacts future references.
Notice period communications reference resignation within employment law contexts. You might write “My resignation includes the standard two-week notice period” or “The contract requires 30 days notice following resignation” to acknowledge legal requirements. Understanding compensation across specialized fields influences when people choose to resign and how they time their departures.
Resignation acceptance responses from employers require professional acknowledgment too. An employer might respond “We accept your resignation with regret and wish you success in your future endeavors” to maintain positive relationships despite the departure.
Creating Your Own Resignation Sentences
Building strong resignation sentences requires understanding context, audience, and purpose. These guidelines help you construct clear, appropriate sentences for any situation you encounter.
Start by identifying which meaning you’re using since emotional acceptance resignation needs different language than employment resignation. Being clear about your intended meaning prevents confusion for your readers or listeners.
Consider your audience when choosing formality level. Writing to your boss demands professional language and proper structure. Telling friends about quitting your job allows much more casual phrasing and conversational tone.
Include necessary details when writing about employment resignations. Effective dates, position titles, notice periods, and transition information all belong in professional resignation communications. The more specific you are, the clearer your message becomes.
Use active voice for stronger, more direct sentences. “She submitted her resignation” beats “Her resignation was submitted by her” every time. Active construction creates more powerful communication that’s easier to understand quickly.
Streamlining Your Resignation Process
If you’re preparing to resign from your current position, having the right tools makes the transition smoother. You’ll need properly formatted documents and strategic management of your job search after leaving.
RoboApply’s AI Resume Builder helps you create optimized resumes for new opportunities following your resignation. The platform formats your experience so it appears professional and passes through applicant tracking systems.
The AI Cover Letter Generator creates tailored letters for each application after you resign. You’re not starting from scratch with every opportunity you pursue.
AI Auto Apply manages applications across multiple positions efficiently during your career transition. You can focus on interview preparation while the platform handles repetitive application tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use resignation in a sentence?
Use “resignation” as a noun meaning either emotional acceptance like “She felt resignation” or leaving a job like “He submitted his resignation.” Context determines meaning.
What’s an example of resignation in a sentence?
Emotional example would be “They accepted the decision with resignation.” Employment example would be “Her resignation was effective immediately after she gave proper notice.”
Is resignation formal or informal?
Resignation works in both formal and informal contexts. Professional employment resignation requires formal language while casual conversation about resignation allows informal phrasing appropriately.
Can resignation be used as a verb?
No, “resignation” only works as a noun. The verb form is “resign.” You say “I will resign” not “I will resignation” which confuses learners.
What’s the difference between resignation and resigning?
“Resignation” is the noun describing the act or emotional state. “Resigning” is the verb form meaning the action of quitting. They relate but function differently.
