Quit — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective noun /ˈkwit/

Meaning & Definition of Quit

Quit (verb)

  1. give up
  2. give up
  3. to depart from or out of

Quit (adjective)

  1. released from obligation, charge, or penalty; especially, free

Quit (noun)

  1. the act or an instance of quitting a job

Quit (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give up (a job or office)

    "he decided to quit his job at the fast-food restaurant"

    similar: bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from), give notice
    related: abandon, vacate, drop out (of), throw up
    opposite: keep, stay (at)
    near: hire (out), join, sign on (for)

  2. to stop doing (something) permanently

    "her doctor told her it was high time she quit smoking"

    similar: abandon, discontinue, drop, give up, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in), hang it up, have done (with)
    related: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off, pause, taper off, throw up, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up
    opposite: carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain
    near: go, run on, hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist, follow through (with), renew, reopen, restart, resume, preserve, stay, begin, commence, start

  3. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "quit pestering your coworkers with pointless questions"

    similar: break, break off, break up, can (slang), cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), shut off, stop, have done with, put the kibosh on
    related: complete, conclude, finish, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back, pause, stay, abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

  4. to cause to remain behind

    "he quit the house sometime around nine this morning and hasn't been seen since"

    similar: abandon, desert, forsake, leave, maroon, strand, walk away from, walk out on
    related: discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from), sacrifice, distance, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect
    opposite: reclaim
    near: harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

  5. to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control)

    "tried to persuade his daughter to remain at home, but eventually he just quit and let her go out on her own"

    similar: blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, relent, submit, succumb, surrender, yield, say uncle, throw in the towel
    related: acquiesce, defer
    opposite: resist
    near: contend, fight, hold off, battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel, thwart, withstand

  6. to come to an end

    "will this teasing ever quit?"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  7. to give what is owed for

    "eager to quit all debts before starting married life"

    similar: ante (up), balance, clear, discharge, foot, liquidate, meet, pay, pay off, pay up, pony up, recompense, settle, spring (for), stand
    opposite: repudiate

  8. to leave a place often for another

    "we plan to quit the amusement park around seven tonight and then head to the diner for some food"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug off, bug out, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

  9. to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way

    "I thought the kids quitted themselves quite well at the concert tonight"

    similar: acquit, bear, behave, carry, comport, conduct, demean, deport
    related: check, collect, compose, constrain, contain, control, curb, handle, inhibit, quiet, repress, restrain, moderate, modulate, temper, act, impersonate, play
    near: act up, carry on, cut up, misbehave, misconduct

Quit (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. no longer burdened with something unpleasant or painful

    "I am finally quit of that terrible task"

    similar: disencumbered, free, shut (of), unburdened
    related: delivered, freed, liberated, released, unhampered, unimpeded
    near: encumbered, handicapped, hindered, hobbled

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Quit

The most common words with a similar meaning to Quit:

Slang: can, book
British slang: bugger off
Chiefly British: clear off
British: scarper
bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from), abandon, discontinue, drop, give up, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in), break, break off, break up, cease, cut off, cut out, desist (from), end, give over, halt, lay off, leave off, shut off, stop, desert, forsake, maroon, strand, blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, relent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Quit

Words with the opposite meaning of Quit:

keep, stay (at), carry on, continue, keep up, maintain, reclaim, resist, hang on, persist, repudiate, arrive, come, show up, turn up

Related Words for Quit

vacate, drop out (of), throw up, pause, taper off, round (off or out), wrap up, complete, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash

Near Antonyms of Quit

hire (out), join, sign on (for), go, run on, hang in, hold on, persevere, follow through (with), renew, reopen, restart, resume, preserve, stay, begin, commence, start, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir, harbor, have, hold, own

Word Forms of Quit

Inflections: quitted, quitting

Origin & Etymology of Quit

Middle English quiten, quitten, from Anglo-French quiter, from quite free of, released, from Latin quietus quiet, at rest

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Quit

Words & Phrases Containing Quit

quit it, force quit, quiet quit, rage quit, notice to quit

Frequently Asked Questions about Quit

What does "Quit" mean?

"Quit" means give up. As an a verb, an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: give up. It has 10 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Quit"?

Other words for "Quit" include bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from) and abandon. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Quit" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Quit"?

There are 266 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Quit". Common alternatives include bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from), abandon, discontinue and drop.

What is a slang word for "Quit"?

Slang words for "Quit" include can, book and bugger off.

What is the opposite of "Quit"?

Antonyms of "Quit" include keep, stay (at), carry on, continue, keep up, maintain, reclaim and resist. Near antonyms include hire (out), join, sign on (for) and go.

How do you use "Quit" in a sentence?

Examples of "Quit" in a sentence: "he decided to quit his job at the fast-food restaurant"; "her doctor told her it was high time she quit smoking"; "quit pestering your coworkers with pointless questions".

Is "Quit" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Quit" can be used as a verb, an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Quit" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Quit" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.