: to withdraw from one's position or occupation : retire, resign
League commissioner Pete Rozelle … announced his intention to step down after 29 years on the job—his retirement becomes effective upon selection of a successor … Richard Demak and Jerry Kirshenbaum
… the general would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. Brian Duffy et al.
… voltages as high as two hundred and thirty thousand volts … which were carried by high-voltage power lines from generating plants, were being stepped down by large transformers to thirteen thousand volts … Paul Brodeur
2
: to decrease or reduce (something) especially by one or more steps
As This Old House's plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey points out, the installer has to carefully step down the size of the ducts so there's even air pressure at all the room outlets. Scott Gibson
: a decrease or reduction (as in size or amount) and especially one that is gradual or incremental
a dosage step-down
After several months of heavy investments, Amazon said it expects coronavirus-related costs to decelerate. … [Amazon CFO Brian] Olsavsky attributed the step down in Covid costs to a shift in volume. Annie Palmer
That tax credit was scheduled to expire in 2019 but will now expire in 2025, with stepdowns toward the end of the program.Alaska Dispatch News
electrical engineering: serving to decrease voltage
a step-down transformer
2
medical: providing or offering a reduced level of care or service
step-down drug rehab programs
specifically: providing an intermediate level of care and monitoring especially for patients transitioning out of intensive care
a cardiac step-down unit
… a portable, mechanical driver that can power patients' artificial hearts and enable them to recover outside the hospital environment, including at home and at step-down facilities. Anne Buckley
George Arison, founder of online car marketplace Shift Technologies Inc., will take over from Jeff Bonforte, who will step down as chief executive after more than two years in the role. Jennifer Williams-alvarez, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian has already filed to run for the seat held by Councilmember Paul Krekorian, his former boss, who must step down in 2024 due to term limits. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2022 The pair will succeed Lloyd Braun, who will step down from the WME chairman role at year’s end. William Earl, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 The South Florida Sun Sentinel could not confirm what decisions, if any, the administrators reached, including whether to step down or fight any action. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Johnson, who announced his intention to step down two months ago, formally resigned during his own audience with the queen a short time earlier. Sylvia Hui And Danica Kirka, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2022 The British leader, who announced his intention to step down two months ago, is expected to meet with the queen in the late morning at her Balmoral estate to begin the transfer of power to Liz Truss. Jill Lawless, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The central bank will soon have two more top openings when the leaders of the Kansas City and Chicago Fed banks step down next year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age. Catarina Saraiva, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 Layton’s Bobby King is having some success in the lightweight division of Bellator (a fight promotion arguably the next step down), but is too old at 38 to be a UFC prospect. Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 See More