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 45-year-old quit as deputy prime minister, housing secretary and deputy Labour Party leader on Friday, following an official probe into the admission.

From BBC

Twelve months on, Rayner is the fifth minister who has quit after their actions caused embarrassment for the government.

From BBC

Rayner quit the cabinet after admitting she had underpaid stamp duty when buying a flat earlier this year.

From BBC

“It was one of the reasons for me quitting.”

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps it was a jinx, but a little more than eight months later, the Gallagher brothers would call it quits on August 22, 2009, at the V Festival in Weston Park, England.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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