Etherington has played just 10 times for Mark Hughes' men this term, although he did feature as a second-half substitute in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Norwich City.
The 32-year-old's contract at the Britannia Stadium expires at the end of the campaign, and Etherington has not spoken with the Staffordshire club about a potential extension.
"I am definitely leaving," Etherington told The Sentinel. "I have not heard anything from the club, which is fair enough, I have not played a lot lately.
"I will have been there five years in the January just passed and it has been a great time so I am really sad it is coming to an end.
"But there are no hard feelings. I think they are looking to go a different way, which is absolutely fine."
Etherington joined Stoke midway through the 2008-09 season, the club's first in the Premier League, and was an influential figure under Tony Pulis.
The left-sided player scored the first goal as Stoke reached the 2011 FA Cup final with a 5-0 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers at Wembley.
And despite featuring less frequently this season, Etherington has no immediate plans to hang up his boots.
"I am 32. I don't expect my career to be stopping. I am pretty confident of getting a club soon," he added.
"If I'm lucky I have three or four years left.
"I might even go abroad. We will have to see what happens, but it is something I would look into."
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