walk out

British  

verb

1. to leave without explanation, esp in anger

2. to go on strike

3. informal to abandon or desert

4. obsolete to court or be courted by

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noun

1. a strike by workers

2. the act of leaving a meeting, conference, etc, as a protest

walk-out Cultural  

1. The action of leaving a meeting, place of work, or organization as an expression of disapproval or grievance: “During Grimm's speech, the radical students staged a walk-out.”

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walk out Idioms  

1. Go on strike, as in The union threatened to walk out if management would not listen to its demands . [Late 1800s]

2. Leave suddenly, especially as a sign of disapproval. For example, The play was so bad we walked out after the first act . [First half of 1800s]

3. Also, walk out on . Desert, abandon, as in He walked out on his wife and five children . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

When the Vikings made the mistake of letting him walk out the door, he turned into the Seahawks’ next franchise quarterback.

From The Wall Street Journal

As we walk out to the car, I realize there’s someone sitting in it.

From Literature

By 11:00 a.m., the group who began walking out to find help was down to three.

From Literature

More than a hundred students walked out of Cabrillo High School carrying signs and flags for Mexico and Guatemala.

From Los Angeles Times

Teens at high schools across the region walked out of their classes — some in solidarity with protesters and others to join the demonstrations themselves.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disappear
• escape
• flee
• fly
• go
• move
• quit
• retire
• start
• take off
• withdraw