quit

¹

[ kwit ]

verb (used with object)

, quit or quit·ted, quit·ting.

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 or quit·ted, quit·ting.

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 by of ):

   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. usually predicativefoll byof free (from); released (from)

   he was quit of all responsibility for their safety

Other Words From

• quitta·ble adjective
• un·quitted 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with quit , also see call it quits .

Example Sentences

All of the agents who worked with her, she added, have quit or moved on.

From Los Angeles Times

But the members never intentionally called it quits.

From New York Times

The unusual arrangement is partly a product of the haste with which the RFU needed to replace Irishman Felix Jones who quit as defence coach in August, after only seven months in the post.

From BBC

The analysis also focuses on people who quit their current jobs for new ones, not laid off workers.

From Los Angeles Times

The ex-Rep. already gave up his seat in the House, calling it quits just days before the House Ethics report into his alleged sexual misconduct and drug use was set to be released.

From Salon

Related Words

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