quit
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /kwˈɪt/
US
- /ˈkwɪt/
Description
- stop doing
- give up
- leave a job
- stop trying
To quit something means to stop doing it, whether it is a bad habit, a hard task, or a job. Imagine you are building a tower of blocks and it keeps falling over. After a while, you might quit trying. Or maybe a friend keeps borrowing money and never pays you back, so you quit lending to them. You can also quit a team, a game, or a relationship. It is about deciding to stop and walk away. Sometimes quitting feels like failure, but sometimes it is the smartest choice because you can see that something is not working.
The word "quit" means to stop doing something, usually by choice. It is stronger than taking a break or pausing for a while. When you quit, you are saying that you do not want to continue.
You might quit a job if you are unhappy there or if you find a better one. "She decided to quit her stressful job and start painting full-time." It can also be used for habits: "He tried several times to quit smoking, but it was difficult."
"Quit" is not always about something negative. You might quit worrying about something you cannot control. "I decided to quit stressing about the weather and just enjoy my vacation." It can also be used as a direct command telling someone to stop: "Quit messing around!"
The idea behind "quit" is choice. It is not just that you cannot continue; it often means you decide not to continue. Sometimes people see quitting as giving up, but in other cases it is a wise decision to move on. It can be hard to make that choice, but knowing when to quit can matter just as much as knowing when to keep going.
Examples
- 1
Job change
She quit her job and moved to another city.
- 2
Habit
He finally quit smoking last year.
- 3
Sports team
I almost quit the team after the first tournament.
- 4
Digital frustration
If this app keeps freezing, I'm going to quit using it.
Pattern
quit doing something
stop an activity
- 5
Workday stopping
Let's quit for the day and finish the report tomorrow.
- 6
Direct resignation
"I quit," he said, dropping his apron on the counter.
Phrase
I quit
I am leaving or stopping completely
- 7
Command
Quit complaining and help me carry these boxes.
Grammar
quit + -ing is common in commands
- 8
Behavior command
The teacher told the boys to quit it and sit down.
Phrase
quit it
stop that behavior
- 9
Strategic stopping
She decided to quit while she was ahead.
Phrase
quit while you're ahead
stop before things start going badly
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- quitnounverb
Forms
- quitting-ing formverbnoun
- quitspluralnounverb
- quittedpast participleverbnoun