Take the 2-minute tour ×

What is it called when someone is done with the task that he/she enlisted for?


  1. They enlist.
  2. They do what they signed up for.
  3. They __.
share|improve this question
Generally, they complete the task. –  Kris Feb 12 '13 at 12:19
In a military context, enlisted personnel do NOT separate themselves; they are discharged from service. If they do leave on their own, they go AWOL or (much worse) desert. –  MT_Head Feb 20 '13 at 23:27
This question lacks sufficient context. After doing whatever they "enlisted" for (whatever that means), a person could do many things - leave, get paid, be reassigned, rest, move on, etc. As it stands, it's Not A Real Question. –  FumbleFingers Feb 21 '13 at 0:12
In all likelihood they announce "Mission accomplished" and return to civilian life. –  Sven Yargs Nov 14 at 20:42

5 Answers 5

up vote 0 down vote accepted

Completed or finished the task/job?

share|improve this answer

The best word to use generally of oneself is resign, but there are a number of alternatives depending on context.

One antonym of enlist is delist, but that would normally have an object which might be reflexive ("I'd like to delist myself"), and as the ODO link shows, isn't normally used of people.

If you have enlisted in the armed forces, then you are demobilised (or "demobbed") at the end of your service; commissioned officers can resign their commission; members can be cashiered if they are discharged dishonourably.

Thesaurus.com has a number of additional possibilities based on resign, not all of which will be entirely suitable all the time:

give up responsibility abandon, abdicate, bail out, bow out, capitulate, cease work, cede, demit, divorce oneself from, drop, drop out, end service, fold, forgo, forsake, give notice, give up the ship, hand in resignation, hand over, hang it up, leave, quit, relinquish, renounce, retire, secede, separate oneself from, sign off, stand aside, stand down, step down, surrender, terminate, throw in the towel, turn over, vacate, waive, walk out, wash hands of, yield

share|improve this answer
Resign sounds more like you have given up. I'm looking for a word which indicates that you have successfully completed your task. –  jgauffin Feb 12 '13 at 7:57
@jgauffin Please add that rather important piece of information to the question. However, if you enlist to do a job and complete it, then you might retire from the position or (less likely) relinquish it -- both in the list I quote. –  Andrew Leach Feb 12 '13 at 7:59
to me is done with the task implicitly says that they completed the task? –  jgauffin Feb 12 '13 at 8:22
@jgauffin It doesn't in British English. In fact it may well be interpreted exactly the opposite. –  Andrew Leach Feb 12 '13 at 8:35
Ok. thanks. good to know. –  jgauffin Feb 12 '13 at 9:04

I would say they accomplished the task.

Accomplish is defined as:


share|improve this answer

The etymology of the word enlist has to do with the making of a compact between one singular party and one collective party composed of members who contract en masse. Any word having to do with divesture, separation, or even nullification will suffice. The word 'fulfill' and its derivatives would be accurate in the context you describe.

share|improve this answer

In the military, you enlist, you do your tour, and then you're discharged.

Alternatively, in non-military terms, something which has served its purpose after enlistment, might be delisted (a word the spell-checker here doesn't seem to appreciate...:-)

share|improve this answer

Your Answer


