exit

1 of 3

script annotation

ex·​it ˈeg-zət  ˈek-sət 

—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

: leave sense 3a

2

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

Synonyms

Noun

• escape
• outlet
• egress

Verb

• move
• depart
• go
• escape
• get
• flee
• evacuate

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

Detour by using the I-43 southbound/I-894 westbound exit ramp to 76th Street and West Layton Avenue. —Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Since then, the Oracle of Omaha has written down billions on the stake, while 3G Capital quietly headed for the exit, leaving Berkshire as the mostly exposed, and bruised, shareholder. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025

Verb

Horses enter and exit a track at one of four gaps along the backstretch. —Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 3 Sep. 2025

Showers continued east into the Sierra Nevada as the system exited the Sacramento Valley. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing exit

• exit poll
• exit strategy
• exit visa
• make a quick exit

Kids Definition

exit

1 of 3

ex·​it ˈeg-zət  ˈek-sət 

—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