Depart vs Resign

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Depart

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

Resign

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
 DepartResign
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪˈpɑːt//🇺🇸 //dɪˈpɑrt//🇬🇧 //rɪˈzaɪn//🇺🇸 //rɪˈzaɪn//
MeaningTo leave a placeTo quit a job or position.
ExampleThe train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM.She decided to resign from her position after five years.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2B2
Part of speechverbverb
Collocationsdepart from the norm, depart for a destination, depart on scheduleresign from a job, resign with notice, resign the position
Antonymsarrive, stay, remainaccept, retain, stay
Common mistakesUsing 'depart' with 'from' instead of just the destination, Confusing it with 'leave', Not using it in the correct tenseConfused with 'design'; both have different meanings., Using 'resign' when referring to leaving a task but not a position., Incorrectly implying a sense of defeat or failure instead of a voluntary choice.
Usage notesUse 'depart' in formal contexts or travel-related discussions. Less common in casual dialogue.Used in formal contexts, typically referring to jobs or positions. Less common in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Resign

Frequently asked questions: Depart vs Resign

What's the difference between Depart and Resign?

Depart: To leave a place Resign: To quit a job or position.

Are Depart and Resign the same CEFR level?

Depart: B2, Resign: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Depart and Resign?

Depart: verb, Resign: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Depart: The train will depart from platform 5 at 3 PM. Resign: She decided to resign from her position after five years.

Can I use Depart and Resign interchangeably?

Not always. Depart and Resign are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons