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• exit
  exit

  noun

  a way or passage out.
• Exit
  Exit

  noun

  (in Britain) a society that seeks to promote the legitimization of voluntary euthanasia

exit

¹ American  

[eg-zit, ek-sit] / ˈɛg zɪt, ˈɛk sɪt /

noun

• exits
  plural

1. a way or passage out.

   Please leave the theater by the nearest exit.

2. any of the marked ramps or spurs providing egress from a highway.

   Take the second exit after the bridge for the downtown shopping district.

3. a going out or away; departure.

   to make one's exit.

4. a departure of an actor from the stage as part of the action of a play.

5. Also called exit card. Bridge. a card that enables a player to relinquish the lead when having it is a disadvantage.

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verb (used without object)

1. to go out; leave.

2. Bridge. to play an exit card.

verb (used with object)

1. to leave; depart from.

   Sign out before you exit the building.

exit ² American  

[eg-zit, ek-sit] / ˈɛg zɪt, ˈɛk sɪt /

verb (used without object)

1. (a person) goes offstage (used as a stage direction, often preceding the name of the character).

   Exit Falstaff.

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exit ¹ British  

/ ˈɛɡzɪt, ˈɛksɪt /

noun

1. a way out; door or gate by which people may leave

2. the act or an instance of going out; departure

3. 1. the act of leaving or right to leave a particular place

   2. ( as modifier )

      an exit visa

4. departure from life; death

5. theatre the act of going offstage

6. (in Britain) a point at which vehicles may leave or join a motorway

7. bridge

   1. the act of losing the lead deliberately

   2. a card enabling one to do this

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verb

1. to go away or out; depart; leave

2. theatre to go offstage: used as a stage direction

   exit Hamlet

3. bridge to lose the lead deliberately

4. (sometimes tr) computing to leave (a computer program or system)

Exit ² British  

/ ˈɛɡzɪt, ˈɛksɪt /

noun

1. (in Britain) a society that seeks to promote the legitimization of voluntary euthanasia

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• exits
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of exit¹

First recorded in 1560–70; partly from Latin exitus “act of going out, departure,” noun derivative of exīre “to go out”; partly noun and verb use of exit ²

Origin of exit²

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin exit; literally, “(he/she) goes out,” 3rd-person singular present of exīre; see exit ¹

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Explanation

To exit is to go out of or leave a place. When an actor exits, he moves off the stage and out of sight of the audience. You can literally exit a room or a building, or exit in a more figurative way: "She decided to exit politics after two terms as Senator." The door or passage through which you exit can also be called an exit, like the emergency exit on a train or airplane. The stage direction, as in "exit, stage left," is the original English use of the word, from the Latin exitus, "a leaving, a going out."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exit Exit exits

Squarespace, which announced it was cutting 19% of its staff, offered a similar exit package, allowing laid-off employees to keep their laptops and receive 16 weeks of severance pay and healthcare through May 2027.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026

None are likely looking to exit from the industry, however.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

According to an NBC News exit poll, AI and data centers were "a crucial or a major factor" for 56 percent of voters in their choice for Congress.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

Sadly for Ronaldo and his followers, his exit comes with decidedly less jubilation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

“She said to follow the exit signs, and they’d meet us once we’re outta here,” JP says.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Exit polling conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights group, found in 2020 that Biden earned 69 percent of the Muslim vote, compared to Trump’s 17 percent.

From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026

It was nominated for the best editing prize at Basingstoke's Exit 6 Film Festival and won best international short at Roswell Shorts Festival in New Mexico.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Exit polls are expected shortly after polling stations close.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

The first pours of Cup of Ambition will be served at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, a new travel center opening June 24 off Exit 22 on Interstate 65 south of Nashville.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

I live in a human habitat called the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade.

From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate

The rout doesn’t mean run for the exits, but investors should choose semiconductor names wisely.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

Russian Telegram channel Baza, which reportedly has links to law enforcement, said the park was now closed and "open only for exits".

From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026

In a different financial reality, it needed to be stripped back and, including loans and academy exits, 34 players left the club in the summer and 16 arrived.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

He exits the rally dancing to the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

The birds erupted into a feathery whirlwind, cawing and chirping as they fled toward all exits.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

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Related Words

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