excuse themselves from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "excuse themselves from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when someone is seeking to be released from a responsibility, obligation, or situation. Example: "During the meeting, she decided to excuse herself from the discussion to take an important phone call."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Neither the Conservative Party, nor anyone else should excuse themselves from the duty to confront these questions.

Independent

When do religious convictions allow individuals (or corporations) to excuse themselves from obligations that are binding on everyone else?

The New Yorker

Optimists think it will all be fine without our involvement; pessimists adopt the opposite position; both excuse themselves from acting.

The Guardian - Books

"The sites and newspapers that produce this information cannot excuse themselves from self-examination on several fronts.

The Guardian

Cowboys 19, Panthers 14 All the Tony Romo critics can excuse themselves from further embarrassment by piling on Cam Newton instead.

The New York Times

This creates a more open feeling, and if they absolutely needed to, they could excuse themselves from the conversation much more easily than if you were standing square in front of them, blocking their way.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

We overbooked.' And then it becomes the house of cards with the Democrats excusing themselves from visits to this city and being in the same room with me.

The New York Times

The chief justice, Deborah Poritz, and another justice, Peter Verniero, both excused themselves from the case because they each had served as attorney general and opposed parole for Mr. Trantino.

The New York Times

After the pair excused themselves from the group, Marciano told him: 'I'm not gonna spend any money, and I don't want you to spend any.

The Guardian - Sport

In essence, three-quarters of the priests surveyed washed their hands of responsibility for Catholics who leave the church and excused themselves from an obligation to respond.

The New York Times

Another judge, Jane Talcott, is a senior partner and group creative director at Y. & R. Advertising judges excused themselves from evaluating their agencies' work.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excuse themselves from" to politely indicate someone is removing themselves from an obligation, conversation, or duty. Ensure the context clearly implies a reason for the removal, whether implicit or explicit.

Common error

In casual conversations or informal writing, consider more relaxed alternatives like "step away from" or "skip" to avoid sounding overly formal or stilted. Overusing "excuse themselves from" can make your communication sound unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excuse themselves from" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of withdrawing or seeking permission to leave a situation, obligation, or conversation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a standard usage in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

25%

Science

19%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excuse themselves from" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a polite withdrawal from an obligation, situation, or conversation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in written English. It appears frequently in "News & Media", "Academia", and "Science" contexts. While versatile, it's important to consider the register and opt for more informal alternatives like "step away from" or "skip" in casual settings. Common mistakes include overusing the phrase in informal scenarios. Related phrases such as "withdraw from" or "opt out of" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be excused from

Directly states that permission to be absent or not participate has been given.

withdraw from

Focuses on the action of stepping back or removing oneself.

opt out of

Emphasizes making a choice not to participate.

refrain from

Highlights self-control and avoidance.

abstain from

Suggests a more formal or principled avoidance.

beg off

Implies a polite refusal or request for exemption.

be exempt from

Indicates a state of being free from an obligation.

bow out of

Suggests a graceful or formal withdrawal.

get out of

An informal way to express avoiding a responsibility.

pass on

Indicates declining an invitation or opportunity.

FAQs

How can I politely use "excuse themselves from" in a sentence?

To use "excuse themselves from" politely, ensure you provide a brief, respectful explanation. For example: "They had to "excuse themselves from" the meeting due to a prior engagement."

What's a formal alternative to "excuse themselves from"?

A more formal alternative is "withdraw from". For instance, "The board member chose to "withdraw from" the voting process to avoid any conflict of interest."

When is it appropriate to use "excuse themselves from"?

"Excuse themselves from" is appropriate when someone needs to step away from a situation, duty, or conversation, and it's often used in professional or formal settings to indicate a polite withdrawal.

Which is correct: "excuse them from" or "excuse themselves from"?

"Excuse themselves from" is a reflexive construction, indicating that people are removing themselves. "Excuse them from" means someone else is excusing them, implying a different subject. For example: "The manager "excused them from" their duties." vs. "They decided to "excuse themselves from" the task."