exit

1 of 3

script annotation

used as a stage direction to specify who goes off stage

exit

2 of 3

noun

1
: a departure from a stage
2
a
: the act of going out or away
made an early exit
b
: death
3
: a way out of an enclosed place or space
4
: one of the designated points of departure from an expressway
exitless adjective

exit

3 of 3

verb

exited; exiting; exits

intransitive verb

1
: to go out or away : depart
2
: die

transitive verb

1
2
: to cause (a computer program or routine) to cease running

Examples of exit in a Sentence

Noun Use the emergency exit in case of fire. There are 12 exits in the building. We can't get out this way: the sign says “No Exit.” Verb The team exited the tournament early. Save your work and then exit the program.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But how Beijing will implement this vision remains unclear, and its resistance to any major stimulus measures to increase income and spur consumption has disappointed investors, sending them toward the exits. Laura He, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The president remained in the Capitol until after 11 p.m. and was still making his exit even as Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-Ala.), was making her party’s rebuttal to the president’s State of the Union address in remarks from her kitchen in Alabama. Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Oprah Winfrey has set an hour-long ABC primetime special about weight loss drugs following her exit from the board of WeightWatchers after revealing her personal use of them. Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Her exit from the 2024 race marks the beginning of what is expected to be the longest and most expensive general election in history. USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Her family searched the area and found Baker's body in a wooded area near an exit ramp on I-95. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 Following the criticism, the host took an unplanned hiatus from the reality series and never returned amid the firestorm that ultimately led to his exit. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Those departures follow the exits of nine large insurance companies and Vanguard leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative in recent years, bringing the total assets under management that have left these groups upward of $19 trillion. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 The man also reportedly behaved threateningly toward a woman who spoke to KXAS by banging on her car windows and blocking her exit from her driveway. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
Biden took about 35 minutes between finishing his speech and exiting the House chamber — shaking hands, chatting with members of Congress and answering questions until the lights started to switch off around him. Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The two males and a female exited the store and got into an SUV in the parking lot. Journal Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2024 At the time, PEOPLE reported that the actress was unable to exit her vehicle when law enforcement officers arrived on the scene. Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Beth Aper was last seen exiting a vehicle on Judge Orr Road and North Calhan Highway in August 2022, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said in a Wednesday, March 6, news release. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Lakers LeBron James exits early as Lakers surrender 19-point lead and fall to Kings March 6, 2024 The season is winding down and there’s not much time for the Lakers to make up ground. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The Philadelphia Police Department released footage of the suspects pulling into a handicap parking space in a lot at about 2:53 p.m. before three individuals exited from the front passenger door and two rear doors. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2024 Some of the largest asset management firms, including J.P. Morgan Asset Management, State Street, and Pimco have exited some of the most influential investor climate coalitions. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 The employees reported Cawthon left, then returned, struck one of them again, and then exited the store for good, according to police. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Script annotation

borrowed from Latin, third person singular present indicative of exeō, exīre "to come or go out," from ex- ex- entry 1 + īre "to go" — more at issue entry 1

Noun

in part derivative of exit entry 1 or exit entry 3, in part borrowed from Latin exitus "act of going out, departure, means of departure, way out, final point, conclusion," from exi-, variant stem of exīre "to come or go out" (from ex- ex- entry 1 + īre "to go") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at issue entry 1

Verb

derivative of exit entry 1 or exit entry 2

First Known Use

Script Annotation

circa 1548, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exit was circa 1548

Dictionary Entries Near exit

Cite this Entry

“Exit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exit. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exit

1 of 3
used as a stage direction to indicate who goes off the stage

exit

2 of 3 noun
1
: a departure from a stage
2
: the act of going out or away
3
: a way to go out of a place

exit

3 of 3 verb
: to go out : leave, depart
Etymology

from Latin exit "he or she goes out," from exire "to go out," from ex- "out of, from" and ire "to go" — related to issue, itinerary

More from Merriam-Webster on exit

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