quit

verb

\ ˈkwit

quit also quitted; quitting

Definition of quit

(Entry 1 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : give up sense 1 quit a job

b : give up sense 2 quit smoking

c : to depart from or out of

d : to leave the company of

2 : to make full payment of : pay up quit a debt

3 : to set free : relieve, release quit oneself of fear

4 : conduct, acquit the youths quit themselves like men

intransitive verb

1 : to give up employment

2 : to cease normal, expected, or necessary action the engine quit

3 : to admit defeat : give up

quit

adjective

Definition of quit (Entry 2 of 3)

: released from obligation, charge, or penalty especially : free

quit

noun

Definition of quit (Entry 3 of 3)

: the act or an instance of quitting a job

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Is it quit or resign? More Example Sentences Learn More about quit

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Choose the Right Synonym for quit

Verb

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity. stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness. stopped at the red light cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality. by nightfall the fighting had ceased quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing. the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice. we have discontinued the manufacture of that item desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing. desisted from further efforts to persuade them

Is it quit or resign?

Adjective

Should you quit or should you resign from your job? No matter which one you choose, it is likely that both of these actions will have the exact same effect on your future, as they are, in this sense, fairly synonymous. However, each is more likely to be found used in specific settings, so you may wish to choose your word with care. Resign is more formal, and will often be found when a person is describing relinquishing a position or office, especially if it is done in disgrace. While it would not be incorrect to say that a member of an organization's board, a king or queen, or a political leader "quit their position," it is more likely that the word resign would be employed.

Examples of quit in a Sentence

Verb

She quit college after one semester. She decided to quit show business. He quit teaching after five years. Many workers are quitting because of poor pay. She hates her job and she's thinking about quitting. She quit smoking years ago. I wish you would quit bothering her. We're going to quit for the day. It's too hot to keep working.

Adjective

I am finally quit of that terrible task.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But Intel’s chief operating officer Kim Stevenson quit in 2017, without a direct replacement. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Intel makes Bob Swan its permanent CEO, maintaining a slow, steady course away from the PC," 31 Jan. 2019 Here, five behaviors worth quitting, and the must-have masks, cleansing wipes, nail polishes, and hair serums that will make these tasks as simple as pressing add to cart. — Mackenzie Wagoner, Vogue, "5 Bad Beauty Habits to Break This Year (and How)," 29 Dec. 2018 And instead of helping smokers quit, Juul captured the nonsmoking teen market. — Julia Belluz, Vox, "7 bad science and health ideas that should die with 2018," 26 Dec. 2018 Miller quit his job at Uber in March 2018 and went on to lidar startup Luminar. — Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Uber manager in March: “We shouldn’t be hitting things every 15,000 miles”," 11 Dec. 2018 Meghan Markle's personal assistant has reportedly quit her post suddenly after just six months on the job. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Meghan Markle's Personal Assistant Has Reportedly Quit After Six Months on the Job," 10 Nov. 2018 According to an interview with TIME Money, the two moms quit their retail jobs to run their Instagram account—a full-time job that pays their bills through sponsored content and advertisements. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "Here Are The Best Days To Shop At Target, Based On What You’re Looking For," 12 Oct. 2018 Romley said his review will include examining how visitors enter Hacienda’s buildings, whether doors are locked, reviewing safety audits and complaints, and trying to speak with the chief executive who recently quit. — Jacques Billeaud, The Seattle Times, "Ex-prosecutor to lead health care firm’s rape investigation," 14 Jan. 2019 But overall, at the six-month follow-up mark, participants who finished Dry January and those who quit early reported drinking fewer days a week and fewer drinks per sitting on average. — Sumathi Reddy, WSJ, "The Dry January Effect," 1 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

One was let go and two quit because of the working hours, Ms. Wells said. — Sarah Krouse, WSJ, "911 Emergency: Call Centers Can’t Find Workers," 4 Aug. 2018 But the 29-year-old quit doing so when her phone provider stopped covering the majority of the cost. — Yoko Kubota, WSJ, "Apple’s Troubles Extend Beyond China," 3 Jan. 2019 When Seth Frotman, former CFPB student loan ombudsman, quit late last summer, his resignation letter referenced a report that had been written but not published on high fees for campus bank accounts. — Melissa Korn, WSJ, "Unpublished Report Found Campus Banks Cashing In on High Fees," 11 Dec. 2018 Blaine getting kicked out of NYADA when he was depressed, while Rachel felt too good for the school and quit, and then was let back in after harassing Whoopi Goldberg about it. — Claire Dodson, Teen Vogue, "Fans Remember "Glee" and Its Most Absurd, Problematic Plot Arcs," 21 Nov. 2018 The retailers each said their mutual decision to call it quits was made despite their belief in the deal’s rationale. — Heather Haddon And Cara Lombardo, WSJ, "Rite Aid, Albertsons Call Off Merger Amid Investor Opposition," 9 Aug. 2018 But with the explosion in salaries and sponsorship money in recent years, a solid driver today can make enough to call it quits in their 30s with plenty of financial security. — Gary Gastelu, Fox News, "Exhausted NASCAR drivers are retiring younger: 'It can make you old fast'," 17 Aug. 2018 The two ended up calling it quits, which prompted Camilla to reignite her relationship with Andrew. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, "What Camilla Parker Bowles Was Really Like Before She Became a Duchess," 1 Aug. 2018 So why is Betts bucking the calling-it-quits trend of such septuagenarian stars as Elton John, Joan Baez, and Paul Simon? — Dan Deluca, Philly.com, "Guitar great Dickey Betts on unretiring, mourning the Allman brothers, and why he'll always be a 'Ramblin' Man'," 12 July 2018

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