What does "quit" mean?

1. (to stop an activity) to stop doing something, especially a habit or a difficult task. 2. (to leave a job) to tell your employer that you are leaving your job. 3. (to close a program) to close a computer application or software. 4. (to leave a place) to leave a place permanently. 5. (free from something) to be finished with or free from something annoying.

How do you use "quit"?

Usually follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'of'.

Is it correct to say "I quit to smoke last year."?

No — say "I quit smoking last year.". The verb 'quit' is followed by the -ing form (gerund), not the infinitive.

quit

v. · adj.

US //ˈkwɪt// UK //kwˈɪt// quit

Irregular verb past quit past participle quit

1 to stop an activity (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to stop doing something, especially a habit or a difficult task.

to cease a particular action or habit. Often used with a gerund or as an intransitive verb.

Example

He decided to quit smoking for the sake of his health.

Example

After years of frustration with the project's lack of progress, the lead researcher finally decided to quit and pursue other interests.
- continue
- start
Pitfall

I quit to smoke last year.

I quit smoking last year.

The verb 'quit' is followed by the -ing form (gerund), not the infinitive.
2 to leave a job (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to tell your employer that you are leaving your job.

to resign from a position of employment or office.

Example

She quit her job because she wanted to travel the world.

Example

The CEO unexpectedly quit following the board's decision to restructure the entire international division.
- resign
- leave
- join
- hire

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3 to close a program (v.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

to close a computer application or software.

to terminate a running software application or process.

Example

Make sure you save your work before you quit the program.

Example

If the application becomes unresponsive, you may need to force the system to quit the process manually.
- exit
- close
- open
- launch
4 to leave a place (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Literary

to leave a place permanently.

to depart from or leave a location. Often carries a formal or literary tone in modern usage.

Example

The soldiers were ordered to quit the fort by midnight.

Example

The tenant was served a formal notice to quit the premises within thirty days due to unpaid rent.
- enter
- stay
5 free from something (adj.)
C2 Proficiency British English Formal

to be finished with or free from something annoying.

released from an obligation, debt, or unpleasant situation; typically used in the phrase 'be quit of'.

Example

I am glad to be quit of that troublesome business at last.

Example

Having settled the final accounts, the executor was finally quit of his responsibilities to the estate.

Usage

Usually follows the verb 'to be' and takes the preposition 'of'.
- indebted

Etymology 1

From Middle English quiten, quyten, from Anglo-Norman quitter, Old French quitter, from quitte (“acquitted, quit”), ultimately from Latin quietus, which itself derives from Proto-Indo-European kʷyéh₁-ti-s, from kʷyeh₁- (“to rest”). Doublet of coy, quite, quiet, and quietus. Compare Dutch kwijten (“to quit”), German Low German quitten (“to quit”), German quitten, quittieren, Danish kvitte, Swedish qvitta, kvitta (“to quit, leave, set off”), Icelandic kvitta.

Etymology 2

Probably of imitative origin.

Word family

Verbquit
Adjectivequits

Idioms3 entries