quit

¹ American  

[kwit] / kwɪt /

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.

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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 American  

[kwit] / kwɪt /

noun

1. any of various small tropical birds.

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quit British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. free (from); released (from)

   he was quit of all responsibility for their safety

quit Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing quit

• call it quits

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Other Word Forms

• quittable adjective
• unquitted adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

To quit means to stop doing something. You might quit a lousy job or quit eating dessert. The verb quit can also mean to leave a place or depart from a location. This meaning isn't used as frequently in conversation now as it used to be, but you can still use it to mean leaving somewhere. For example, if you choose to move from sunny California to Maine because you think you'll like the seasons better, you could say you plan to quit California for a colder climate.

Example Sentences

“That is not voting at all. It’s not seeking truth, it’s not democratic. It’s nothing,” said Ramsin Odisho, an insurance consultant in New Zealand who recently decided to quit trading on Polymarket.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

It also brought his MLB-leading batting average to .449 — and wasn’t just icing on the cake but fortification against the Rangers’ hitters who wouldn’t quit.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

But he quit the institution last year amid a bitter governance dispute with its chairperson.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

People quit in droves, they were fired in droves.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

As the other arm came up, he quit frog-kicking and began to flutter his feet, settling into a steady swimmer’s crawl.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Related Words

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