dropout

noun drop·out \ ˈdräp-ˌau̇t \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: dropout in a Sentence

Definition of dropout

1 a : one who drops out of school

b : one who drops out of conventional society

c : one who abandons an attempt, activity, or chosen path

a corporate dropout

2 : a momentary defect on a magnetic tape or disk caused by a temporary loss of signal

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Examples of dropout in a Sentence

The program is designed for dropouts who wish to get high school equivalency certificates.

Recent Examples of dropout from the Web

Getting children off to the right start pays off, reducing juvenile delinquency, addictions, school dropout rates, learning disabilities, obesity and other problems.

— kansascity, "Jean Paul Bradshaw," 5 June 2018
This lack of awareness on the part of educational facilities and the ensuing homelessness greatly contributed to the enormous dropout rate, all but ensuring that only 3% of former foster youth obtain college degrees.

— lara b. sharp, Teen Vogue, "Education Policy Needs to Catch Up to the Needs of Foster Care Youth," 5 June 2018
Test results improved, the dropout rate fell and the charter system, which enrolls more than 70 percent of the city's public school students, has been hailed as a model for the rest of the country.

— contributing writer, NOLA.com, "Forbes called her one of the 7 most powerful educators on the planet. Can you name her?," 10 May 2018
In some studies, dropout rates were as high as 40 percent.

— author: dave philipps, Anchorage Daily News, "Ecstasy as PTSD relief for soldiers: ‘I was able to forgive myself’," 2 May 2018
Under his leadership, the graduation rate jumped to 70 percent from 49 percent, and the dropout rate fell to 12 percent from 21 percent.

— barbara boyer, Philly.com, "Parents, students protest Camden school district to demand adequate funding for books and supplies," 1 May 2018
When the teens founded the organization in 2016, their first initiative was to research teenage dropout rates.

— michelle iracheta, Houston Chronicle, "Nonprofit group aims to help teens stay in school," 28 Apr. 2018
Abandoned by the mining company in 1953, it was saved from ghosthood in the late 1960s by the arrival of hippies, back-to-the-landers, and other dropouts.

— brett martin, Outside Online, "Katie Lee, Our Lady of Glen Canyon," 24 May 2018
The two new charters will give Gary three dropout recovery schools.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Two new charter schools opening in Gary," 16 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dropout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of dropout

1930

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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drop out

verb \ ˌdräp-ˈau̇t \

Definition of drop out

intransitive verb

: to withdraw from participation or membership : quit; especially : to withdraw from conventional society

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First Known Use of drop out

1875

in the meaning defined above

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DROPOUT Defined for English Language Learners

dropout

noun

Definition of dropout for English Language Learners

: a person who stops going to a school, college, etc., before finishing : a person who drops out of school
: a person who stops being involved in society because he or she does not believe in its rules, customs, and values

DROPOUT Defined for Kids

dropout

noun drop·out \ ˈdräp-ˌau̇t \

Definition of dropout for Students

: a person who quits school or a training program

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dropout

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drop out

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dropout

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drop out

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