quit

[ kwit ]

/ kwɪt /

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See synonyms for: quit / quitting on Thesaurus.com

Definition of quit

verb (used with object), quit or quit·ted, quit·ting.

to stop, cease, or discontinue: She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house.

to depart from; leave (a place or person): They quit the city for the seashore every summer.

to give up or resign; let go; relinquish: He quit his claim to the throne.She quit her job.

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

to acquit or conduct (oneself).

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

to clear (a debt); repay.

verb (used without object), quit or quit·ted, quit·ting.

to cease from doing something; stop.

to give up or resign one's job or position: He keeps threatening to quit.

to depart or leave.

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

adjective

released from obligation, penalty, etc.; free, clear, or rid (usually followed by of): quit of all further responsibilities.

OTHER WORDS FOR quit

3 vacate; release.

12 acquitted, discharged.

See synonyms for quit on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR quit

1 start.

2 enter.

See antonyms for quit on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of quit

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;” see also quite

OTHER WORDS FROM quit

quit·ta·ble, adjectiveun·quit·ted, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH quit

quiet, quit , quite

Words nearby quit

quis custodiet ipsos custodes?, quisling, Quisling, Vidkun, quis separabit?, quist, quit, quitch, quitch grass, quitclaim, quitclaim deed, quite

Other definitions for quit (2 of 2)

quit²

[ kwit ]

/ kwɪt /

noun

any of various small tropical birds.

Origin of quit

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use quit in a sentence

She quits cold turkey — “It took four days,” she says — after meeting her husband Kevin Hunter.
Wendy Williams seems like the perfect Lifetime movie subject. So why is it so unsettling to watch?|Bethonie Butler|January 31, 2021|Washington Post
Naturally, you want to share this workload with your husband, but requesting he quit something he has done for years was going to be met with understandable resistance.
Sharing the workload at home when one child has special needs|Meghan Leahy|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
A few people quit high school to do the show and then got their GEDs, and we were aware that getting this job was changing their life trajectory.
How ‘Freaks and Geeks’ went from misfit dramedy to cult classic, as told by its cast and creators: ‘People just like it so much that it thrusts itself from the grave’|Sonia Rao|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
For the family, if Peter quit flying, it meant he’d be home more to help with the kids.
The Climate Crisis Is Worse Than You Can Imagine. Here’s What Happens If You Try.|by Elizabeth Weil|January 25, 2021|ProPublica

Despite the threats and harassment not one Parler employee has quit.
House Oversight Committee chairwoman requests FBI probe of Parler, including its role in Capitol siege|Tom Hamburger, Craig Timberg|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
Park employees helped John quit tobacco by way of a butts-proof glass enclosure, a drastic change in diet, and regular exercise.
Zebra Finches, Dolphins, Elephants, and More Animals Under the Influence|Bill Schulz|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But they had not quit and here they now were as the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums came into the Garden.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Army B-squad players who fail to make it onto the varsity team after a year or two usually quit football.
A West Point MVP Who Never Played a Down|Nicolaus Mills|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Tuesday, two senior Kremlin officials, Vladimir Avdeyenko and Boris Rapoport, quit their jobs.
Recession? Devaluation? Inflation? Putin Tells Russia Stay the Course.|Anna Nemtsova|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His breath became so strained that he was forced to quit his job as a horticulturalist for the parks department.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hain't I kep' in doors uv a nite, an quit chawn tobacker and smokin' segars just to please her?
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
And knowing that bunch as well as I do, I don't think they'll lift the plunder and quit the country till they can go together.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
The seller may safely give a quit-claim deed for he thereby sells only whatever interest he may have.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
King Edward refused to believe the evidence of his senses, and obstinately refused to quit the field.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
That you and Jim don't mention the sale to anybody, and keep on runnin' the place—for wages—until I'm ready for you to quit.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for quit

quit

/ (kwɪt) /

verb quits or quitting or quitted or mainly US quit

(tr) to depart from; leavehe quitted the place hastily

to resign; give up (a job)he quitted his job today

(intr) (of a tenant) to give up occupancy of premises and leave themthey received notice to quit

to desist or cease from (something or doing something); break offquit laughing

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

(tr) archaic to conduct or acquit (oneself); comport (oneself)he quits himself with great dignity

adjective

(usually predicative foll by of) free (from); released (from)he was quit of all responsibility for their safety

Word Origin for quit

C13: from Old French quitter, from Latin quiētus quiet; see quietus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with quit

quit

In addition to the idiom beginning with quit

quite a bit
quit while one's ahead

also see:

call it quits

quit

Definition of quit

OTHER WORDS FOR quit

OPPOSITES FOR quit

Origin of quit

OTHER WORDS FROM quit

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH quit

Words nearby quit

Other definitions for quit (2 of 2)

Origin of quit

Words related to quit

How to use quit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for quit

Word Origin for quit

Other Idioms and Phrases with quit