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

Their decision to quit increases the likelihood of a challenge to Mrs. May’s leadership from within her own party. — Jason Douglas, WSJ, "Resignations Over May’s Brexit Plan Throw U.K. Government Into Turmoil," 9 July 2018 Nielsen recently quit his job as a labor union organizer and bought a 16-acre farm in Stewartstown, Pa. — Sarah Meehan, baltimoresun.com, "A training program for new farmers is teaching its biggest class yet," 28 June 2018 But Ignashevich reversed his decision to quit last month after Ruslan Kambolov withdrew from the squad. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "Russia Grasps With Danger of Being Worst On-Field World Cup Host Ever," 13 June 2018 As fishing declined, forcing local fishermen in the island villages to quit, NetWorks arrived in 2012 to set up a pioneering net recovery program. — National Geographic, "These Communities Turn Discarded Fishing Nets Into Carpets," 13 June 2018 In pretty much every other way, the Lamb’s Players Theatre production, on the other hand, just won’t quit. — James Hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "'Once' is a singularly memorable musical trip at Lamb's Players Theatre," 9 June 2018 While Kate worked for the company full-time from the beginning, Andy formally joined full-time in 1996 after quitting his advertising job. — Maggie Maloney, Town & Country, "How Legendary Fashion Designer Kate Spade Built Her Business," 5 June 2018 When the late Chronicle columnist Herb Caen wrote about the stunt, Shultz’s boss — a supporter of Shelley’s opponent — told her to quit her job or stop volunteering. — Carolyne Zinko, San Francisco Chronicle, "After 51 years serving SF, protocol queen Charlotte Shultz undaunted by elections, cancer," 29 May 2018 In some cases they are being touted as a nicotine replacement product that smokers can use to eventually quit smoking altogether or (more likely to me) a healthier way to get your nicotine. — Scientific American, "E-Cigs and Second-Hand Vaping," 18 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

So many bus drivers with the Ector County Independent School District in nearby Odessa quit for the shale fields that kids were sometimes late to class. — Bloomberg, latimes.com, "Shale country is out of workers. That means $140,000 for a truck driver and 100% pay hikes," 8 June 2018 The Bears had a two-goal lead in the closing moments, but Lapeire didn’t quit. — Jon J. Kerr, chicagotribune.com, "Hannah Lapeire helping to define new era of Stevenson girls soccer," 7 May 2018 Three years after enrolling, one-third had quit, compared to about a quarter of students whose parents have a university degree, the Education Department reports. — Jon Marcus, star-telegram, "More high school grads than ever are going to college, but 1 in 5 will quit," 7 July 2018 Less than a month ago, singer Ariana Grande and rapper Mac Miller called quits on their two year relationship. — refinery29.com, "What Ariana Grande Gets Right About Dating Someone With Addiction," 23 May 2018 The always-threatening-to-quit Who — who scheduled their first farewell tour in 1982 — don’t have any tour dates in 2018, so the singer is out working on his own. — Dan Deluca, Philly.com, "Roger Daltrey on 'Tommy,' The Who and saving Pete Townshend from sycophantitis," 14 June 2018 At the Jose Manuel de los Rios Children's Hospital in Caracas, 68 doctors - or 20 percent of the medical staff - quit and left the country over the past two years. — Anthony Faiola And Rachelle Krygier, chicagotribune.com, "A historic exodus is leaving Venezuela without teachers, doctors and electricians," 4 June 2018 Meanwhile, Wray, the march's co-chairman, quit on May 31. — Chris Foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "When Milwaukee tried to keep Martin Luther King's promise and march for the poor," 22 May 2018 Vegas likes the never-quit, rebuilding Detroit Tigers. — George Sipple, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' World Series odds 'improve' from worst to 150-1," 1 May 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.