quit
- 1To stop doing an activity you were doing and not do it anymore.
Like putting down a hobby and never picking it up again.
She decided to quit smoking after years of trying.
He quit halfway through the marathon because of cramps.
UsageSay quit smoking (not
incorrect: quit to smoke). Past: quit.Similarstop, cease, abandon, discontinue, drop
- 2
- 3To give something up completely and turn away from it.
Like throwing away something you no longer want and never going back for it.
She quit sugar completely and felt better within a month.
My uncle decided to quit cigarettes for good the year his son was born.
UsageYou can add for good or altogether: quit sugar for good, quit cigarettes altogether.
Similarrenounce, abandon, relinquish, forsake, surrender
- 4To close a computer program so that it stops running.
Like switching off a machine when you finish using it.
Remember to quit the app before turning off your laptop.
She quit the program when it started to freeze.
UsageSay quit the app. Force quit stops an app that froze.
Note
- 5To go away from a place and leave it behind.
Like walking out of a house for the last time and shutting the door.
The renters were told to quit the apartment by June first.
The soldiers quit the city before the sun came up.
UsageSay quit the city or quit the house.
Similarleave, vacate, abandon, exit, depart
Note
Less common meanings
- 6
- 7To pay back a debt or fine that you owe.
that judge that quits each soul his hire
1600, [Torquato Tasso], Godfrey of BulloigneHere, quits means pays, so the judge gives each soul its pay.Edmund, enkindle all the sparkes of Nature To quit this horrid acte.
1605, William ShakespeareNote
- 8To act or behave in a certain way.
Like showing good manners when everyone is watching how you act.
The young knight promised to quit himself bravely in battle.
Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, quit yourselves means behave or act like men.UsageToday people say acquit yourself well.
Note
- 9To finish something all the way to the end.
Never worthy prince a day did quit With greater hazard and with more renown.
1595, Samuel Daniel, Civil WarsHere, quit means carried through to the end, so he saw the day out.Note
- 10To pay someone back for something good or bad that they did.
Forgive me, Rogero: 'tis my fate To love thy friend and quit thy love with hate.
1613, John Marston, William BarkstedHere, quit means to repay, so pay back love with hate.Vnthankfull wretch (said he) is this the meed, With which her soueraigne mercy thou doest quight?
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, quight means repay or pay back her mercy.Note
- 11To free someone from a duty, blame, punishment, or something that troubles them.
God will relent, and quit thee all his debt;
1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes,.” - 12A small songbird that lives in the warm parts of the Americas.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
It came through Old French from Latin quietus, meaning "at rest," and is related to the words quiet and quite.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts
- Quit came through Old French from Latin quietus. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin quietus means at rest. en.wiktionary.org
- Quit is etymologically related to quiet and quite. en.wiktionary.org