exit

¹

[ eg-zit, ek-sit ]

noun

1. a way or passage out:

   Please leave the theater by the nearest exit.

2. any of the marked ramps or spurs providing egress from a highway:

   Take the second exit after the bridge for the downtown shopping district.

3. a going out or away; departure:

   to make one's exit.

4. a departure of an actor from the stage as part of the action of a play.
5. Also called exit card. Bridge. a card that enables a player to relinquish the lead when having it is a disadvantage.

verb (used without object)

1. to go out; leave.
2. Bridge. to play an exit card.

verb (used with object)

1. to leave; depart from:

   Sign out before you exit the building.

exit

²

[ eg-zit, ek-sit ]

verb (used without object)

1. (a person) goes offstage (used as a stage direction, often preceding the name of the character):

   Exit Falstaff.

exit

¹

/ ˈɛɡzɪt; ˈɛksɪt /

noun

1. a way out; door or gate by which people may leave
2. the act or an instance of going out; departure
3. 1. the act of leaving or right to leave a particular place
   2. ( as modifier )

      an exit visa

4. departure from life; death
5. theatre the act of going offstage
6. (in Britain) a point at which vehicles may leave or join a motorway
7. bridge
   1. the act of losing the lead deliberately
   2. a card enabling one to do this

verb

1. to go away or out; depart; leave
2. theatre to go offstage: used as a stage direction

   exit Hamlet

3. bridge to lose the lead deliberately
4. sometimes tr computing to leave (a computer program or system)

Exit

²

/ ˈɛɡzɪt; ˈɛksɪt /

noun

1. (in Britain) a society that seeks to promote the legitimization of voluntary euthanasia

Word History and Origins

Origin of exit¹

First recorded in 1560–70; partly from Latin exitus “act of going out, departure,” noun derivative of exīre “to go out”; partly noun and verb use of exit ²

Origin of exit²

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin exit; literally, “(he/she) goes out,” 3rd-person singular present of exīre; exit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exit¹

C17: from Latin exitus a departure, from exīre to go out, from ex- ¹+ īre to go

Example Sentences

According to exit polls, he won a majority of white women, just as he did in 2020.

From Salon

Within six months of taking office, the United States moved to exit the landmark deal.

From BBC

Exit polls are imperfect, but they suggest where each party gained and lost votes since 2020.

From Salon

But Hegseth’s exit is a surprise.

From Los Angeles Times

One parent of an elementary school student confirmed to The Times that La Crescenta dismissed students at their regularly scheduled 2:40 p.m. release time, while Crescenta Valley High dismissed students out a back exit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blow
• depart
• get off
• go out
• quit
• retire
• withdraw