Synonyms of quit

quit 1 of 2

verb

ˈkwit 

1

as in to leave

to give up (a job or office)

he decided to quit his job at the fast-food restaurant

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leave
• retire (from)
• abandon
• resign (from)
• give notice
• chuck
• vacate
• step down (from)
• step aside (from)
• bag
• drop out (of)
• throw up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• stay (at)
• join
• hire (out)
• sign on (for)

2

as in to abandon

to stop doing (something) permanently

her doctor told her it was high time she quit smoking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandon
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• have done (with)
• finish
• cease
• give up
• pack (up or in)
• conclude
• lay off (of)
• close
• hang it up
• halt
• shut off
• expire
• knock off
• pause
• break off
• terminate
• leave off
• break up
• taper off
• throw up
• wind up
• round (off or out)
• wrap up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• keep
• maintain
• go
• carry on
• keep up
• persist
• run on
• hold on
• start
• stay
• resume
• begin
• renew
• reopen
• persevere
• preserve
• hang on
• hang in
• commence
• restart
• follow through (with)

3

as in to stop

to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

quit pestering your coworkers with pointless questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• cease
• halt
• end
• discontinue
• suspend
• delay
• cut off
• drop
• finish
• shut off
• can
• leave off
• conclude
• cut out
• lay off
• break
• desist (from)
• have done with
• break off
• pack (up or in)
• give over
• break up
• knock off
• check
• put the kibosh on
• complete
• close (down)
• pause
• stay
• ruin
• abort
• deactivate
• block
• hinder
• hold
• suppress
• impede
• hold back
• obstruct
• destroy
• turn back
• abolish
• detain
• kill
• call
• dissolve
• stem
• dam
• scuttle
• arrest
• brake
• clamp down
• blockade
• squelch
• snuff
• rein (in)
• stamp
• demolish
• stunt
• stanch
• squash
• annul
• kibosh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• carry on
• keep up
• run on
• proceed
• progress
• advance
• follow through (with)
• drive
• stir
• actuate
• propel
• impel

4

as in to forsake

to cause to remain behind

he quit the house sometime around nine this morning and hasn't been seen since

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leave
• abandon
• forsake
• dump
• desert
• strand
• walk away from
• discard
• ditch
• relinquish
• escape
• walk out on
• fling
• shed
• vacate
• ignore
• withdraw (from)
• renounce
• maroon
• throw away
• separate (from)
• cut off
• scrap
• forget
• retreat (from)
• reject
• throw out
• jettison
• take off (from)
• surrender
• sacrifice
• hand over
• give up
• disown
• repudiate
• shuck (off)
• junk
• abjure
• yield
• deliver
• disregard
• neglect
• distance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• have
• keep
• hold
• retain
• own
• possess
• withhold
• reclaim
• save
• reserve
• redeem
• harbor
• rescue

5

as in to succumb

to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)

tried to persuade his daughter to remain at home, but eventually he just quit and let her go out on her own

Synonyms & Similar Words

• succumb
• submit
• concede
• surrender
• relent
• capitulate
• budge
• bow
• give in
• blink
• yield
• say uncle
• acquiesce
• knuckle under
• throw in the towel
• defer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resist
• fight
• contend
• oppose
• meet
• confront
• face
• breast
• object
• combat
• defy
• counter
• hold off
• withstand
• repel
• battle
• thwart

6

as in to cease

to come to an end

will this teasing ever quit?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stop
• cease
• end
• expire
• conclude
• halt
• terminate
• go
• finish
• die
• discontinue
• close
• pass
• leave off
• determine
• wind up
• lapse
• elapse
• break off
• let up
• stall
• break up
• wink (out)
• bite the dust
• dead-end
• refrain (from)
• suspend
• stay
• desist (from)
• pause
• lay off (of)
• cut out
• pack (up or in)
• break down
• give over
• knock off
• wind down
• abate
• peter (out)
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• persist
• hang on
• extend
• prolong
• draw out
• protract

7

as in to pay

to give what is owed for

eager to quit all debts before starting married life

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• settle
• meet
• pay off
• stand
• pay up
• liquidate
• balance
• spring (for)
• discharge
• clear
• foot
• ante (up)
• pony up
• recompense

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repudiate

8

as in to depart

to leave a place often for another

we plan to quit the amusement park around seven tonight and then head to the diner for some food

Synonyms & Similar Words

• depart
• move
• exit
• go
• get
• start
• flee
• escape
• evacuate
• retire
• withdraw
• part
• get off
• fly
• bail
• cut out
• peel off
• pull out
• run along
• walk out
• take off
• clear out
• go off
• begone
• bail out
• beat it
• sally (forth)
• clear off
• push off
• step (along)
• dig out
• shove (off)
• push on
• book
• buzz (off)
• pike (out or off)
• emigrate
• pack (up or off)
• skip
• bugger off
• retreat
• set out
• bug out
• take a hike
• scarper
• bug off
• abandon
• vamoose
• take a powder
• hit the road
• strike out
• pull stakes
• get out
• forsake
• vacate
• remove
• run away
• abscond
• go out
• step out
• desert
• decamp
• scram
• light out
• adjourn
• scat
• mizzle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• come
• arrive
• remain
• stay
• show up
• settle
• abide
• dwell
• close
• turn up
• hit
• approach
• reach
• lodge
• tarry
• near
• land

9

as in to behave

to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

I thought the kids quitted themselves quite well at the concert tonight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• behave
• carry
• acquit
• restrain
• handle
• compose
• conduct
• contain
• collect
• control
• check
• play
• deport
• demean
• bear
• inhibit
• curb
• act
• constrain
• comport
• temper
• quiet
• moderate
• repress
• modulate
• impersonate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misconduct
• carry on
• cut up
• misbehave
• act up

quit

2 of 2

adjective

as in free

no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful

I am finally quit of that terrible task

Synonyms & Similar Words

• free
• freed
• shut (of)
• released
• liberated
• unburdened
• disencumbered
• delivered
• unimpeded
• unhampered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hindered
• handicapped
• encumbered
• hobbled

Synonym Chooser

How is the word quit distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of quit are cease, desist, discontinue, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

When is it sensible to use cease instead of quit?

The words cease and quit are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When is desist a more appropriate choice than quit?

While the synonyms desist and quit are close in meaning, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When would discontinue be a good substitute for quit?

While in some cases nearly identical to quit, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When could stop be used to replace quit?

In some situations, the words stop and quit are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of quit

Verb

Nicotine is among the most addictive substances known, altering the brain’s reward pathways and making quitting notoriously difficult. —Kimberly McCreight, Time, 3 June 2026

Ali’s long time ring doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, had noticed that his reflexes were slowing and his speech was becoming slurred — going as far as to urge him to quit boxing. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

Both of my daughters quit school and had children young. —Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026

Davis rooms with his childhood friends Kel (Nicholas Duvernay), who quits medical school in the premiere to pursue his dream of acting, and Josh (Jack Martin), a journalist whose idealism and sense of ethics do not extend to using his media CEO dad to land a gig as a PA on a news show. —Alison Herman, Variety, 2 June 2026