The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word ABDICATE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
B
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A
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More clues leading to the result ABDICATE
- Some get a CID ban overturned and give up
- Reject ruling?
- A black panther maybe breaks fall, making step down
- Give up salt, a diet counsellor initially ordered
- A sharp rise in boys’ truancy? Expect heads to resign
- Sailor, policeman and girl shirk responsibility?
- Hand over sailor to police officer before a large number had dinner
- Two leading characters given heartless command to step down
- In temper, promoted detectives stand down
- Sailor in charge, in time, quit
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "step down/step down" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case step down/step down = abdicate.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ABDICATE mean?
ABDICATE verb- To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
- To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
- To depose.
- To reject; to cast off; to discard.
- To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for.
- To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty.