dropout

1 of 2

noun

drop·​out ˈdräp-ˌau̇t How to pronounce dropout (audio)
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

drop out

2 of 2

verb

dropped out; dropping out; drops out

intransitive verb

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

Examples of dropout in a Sentence

Noun The program is designed for dropouts who wish to get high school equivalency certificates.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Even before the crisis, attorneys argued, public education in Flint failed children, using low graduation rates and high dropout rates as evidence. Lily Altavena, Detroit Free Press, 26 Sep. 2024 As a result, the frame stays light while providing rigidity in areas such as the bottom bracket, dropouts, and head tube. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2024
Verb
The co-founders pledged their support for Trump before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and later posted a podcast explaining their rationale for backing Trump. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 Four days later, Biden dropped out of his reelection campaign and backed Vice President Kamala Harris. Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dropout 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dropout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dropout was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near dropout

Cite this Entry

“Dropout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dropout

1 of 2 noun
drop·​out ˈdräp-ˌau̇t How to pronounce dropout (audio)
: a person who drops out especially from a school or a training program

drop out

2 of 2 verb
: to withdraw from taking part or membership : quit
dropped out of school
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!