Quit Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms quit 1 American [kwit] / kwɪt /

verb (used with object)

quit, quitted, quitting

1. to stop, cease, or discontinue.

   She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house.

   Antonyms: start

2. to depart from; leave (a place or person).

   They quit the city for the seashore every summer.

   Antonyms: enter

3. to give up or resign; let go; relinquish: She quit her job.

   He quit his claim to the throne.

   She quit her job.

   Synonyms: release, vacate

4. to release one's hold of (something grasped).

5. to acquit or conduct (oneself).

6. to free or rid (oneself): to quit oneself of doubts.

7. to clear (a debt); repay.

verb (used without object)

quit, quitted, quitting

1. to cease from doing something; stop.

2. to give up or resign one's job or position.

   He keeps threatening to quit.

3. to depart or leave.

4. to stop trying, struggling, or the like; accept or acknowledge defeat.

adjective

1. released from obligation, penalty, etc.; free, clear, or rid (usually followed byof ).

   quit of all further responsibilities.

quit 2 American [kwit] / kwɪt /

noun

1. any of various small tropical birds.

quit British / kwɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to depart from; leave

   he quitted the place hastily

2. to resign; give up (a job)

   he quitted his job today

3. (intr) (of a tenant) to give up occupancy of premises and leave them

   they received notice to quit

4. to desist or cease from (something or doing something); break off

   quit laughing

5. (tr) to pay off (a debt); discharge or settle

6. archaic (tr) to conduct or acquit (oneself); comport (oneself)

   he quits himself with great dignity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

1. free (from); released (from)

   he was quit of all responsibility for their safety

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 quit Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing quit

• call it quits

Other Word Forms

• quittable adjective
• unquitted adjective

Etymology

Origin of quit1

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb qui(t)ten “to pay, acquit oneself,” from Old French quit(t)er, from Medieval Latin quittāre, quiētāre “to release, discharge,” Late Latin quiētare “to put to rest, quiet; ” quite ( def. )

Origin of quit2

First recorded in 1845–50; originally Jamaican English, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But for now, give him credit, he hasn't quit yet.

From BBC

A senior Israeli and U.S. official tell us the U.A.E.’s leaders are hanging tough rather than urging the two nations to quit.

From The Wall Street Journal

But Down and Kay, who co-created HBO’s gripping finance drama after quitting their jobs as investment bankers, understand that viewers still need a second to catch their breath, preparing for what new crises await.

From Salon

They’re going to think I was just hurt and tired and frustrated and ripped it myself to give myself an out so I could quit.

From The Wall Street Journal

So they quit work, and now live on a campsite in north Wales, where they cut grass, help with site maintenance and check in guests.

From BBC

Related Words

• abandon
• break off
• cease
• conclude
• discontinue
• drop
• give up
• halt
• leave
• retire
• suspend
• terminate
• withdraw

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.