quit

¹

[kwit]

verb (used with object)

quit, quitted, quitting. 

1. to stop, cease, or discontinue.

   She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house.

   Antonyms: start

2. to depart from; leave (a place or person).

   They quit the city for the seashore every summer.

   Antonyms: enter

3. to give up or resign; let go; relinquish: She quit her job.

   He quit his claim to the throne.

   She quit her job.

   Synonyms: release, vacate

4. to release one's hold of (something grasped).

5. to acquit or conduct (oneself).

6. to free or rid (oneself): to quit oneself of doubts.

7. to clear (a debt); repay.

verb (used without object)

quit, quitted, quitting. 

1. to cease from doing something; stop.

2. to give up or resign one's job or position.

   He keeps threatening to quit.

3. to depart or leave.

4. to stop trying, struggling, or the like; accept or acknowledge defeat.

adjective

1. released from obligation, penalty, etc.; free, clear, or rid (usually followed byof ).

   quit of all further responsibilities.

quit

²

[kwit]

noun

1. any of various small tropical birds.

quit

/ kwɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to depart from; leave

   he quitted the place hastily

2. to resign; give up (a job)

   he quitted his job today

3. (intr) (of a tenant) to give up occupancy of premises and leave them

   they received notice to quit

4. to desist or cease from (something or doing something); break off

   quit laughing

5. (tr) to pay off (a debt); discharge or settle

6. archaic,  (tr) to conduct or acquit (oneself); comport (oneself)

   he quits himself with great dignity

adjective

1. free (from); released (from)

   he was quit of all responsibility for their safety

Other Word Forms

• quittable adjective
• unquitted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quit¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb qui(t)ten “to pay, acquit oneself,” from Old French quit(t)er, from Medieval Latin quittāre, quiētāre “to release, discharge,” Late Latin quiētare “to put to rest, quiet; ” quite ( def. )

Origin of quit²

First recorded in 1845–50; originally Jamaican English, of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of quit¹

C13: from Old French quitter, from Latin quiētus _quiet ; see _quietus

Idioms and Phrases

• call it quits

Example Sentences

The researchers compared the health benefits of lowering arsenic to quitting smoking.

Read more on Science Daily

There had been clues of Dow's intentions to quit the sport.

Read more on BBC

The job insecurity is reflected in the percentage of workers quitting their jobs, which fell to 1.9% in August, a ten year low.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most people work until they can afford to quit.

Read more on MarketWatch

They got Torres a video editor, but the person quit after five minutes of viewing deportation footage — so Torres continues to put together the final product.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• break off 
• cease 
• conclude 
• discontinue 
• drop 
• give up 
• halt 
• leave 
• retire 
• suspend 
• terminate 
• withdraw