quit
9 synonyms and 4 antonyms for quit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To resign from a job or position.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use quit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French quitte, "free, discharged," ultimately from the same Latin root as "quiet" and "quite" — the idea of being at rest or settled.
Full origin of quit →Frequently asked questions
What does “quit” mean?
The word “quit” means to resign from a job or position. In plain terms, to stop doing something, resign, or leave.
How do you pronounce “quit”?
“Quit” is pronounced kwiht (/kwɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “quit” in a sentence?
Here is “quit” used in a sentence: “She quit her job to start her own business.”
What is another word for “quit”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quit” include call it quits, conclude and finish.
What is the opposite of “quit”?
The opposite of “quit” — its antonyms — are begin, initiate, persevere and start.
What part of speech is “quit”?
Depending on how it is used, “quit” can be a verb and an adjective.
Where does the word “quit” come from?
The word “quit” comes from Latin. From Old French quitte, "free, discharged," ultimately from the same Latin root as "quiet" and "quite" — the idea of being at rest or settled.
Is “quit” a common word?
“Quit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between quit and resign?
Both mean to leave a job voluntarily. 'Resign' is the formal term, used in official and professional settings — she resigned as director. 'Quit' is more informal and everyday, and it can also mean stopping any activity, such as quitting smoking. To resign is essentially the polite, formal way to quit.
What is the past tense of quit?
In modern usage, 'quit' stays the same in the past tense and past participle — she quit her job last year, he had quit by then. 'Quitted' does exist but is now rare and mostly old-fashioned. 'Quit' is the standard, accepted form for all three tenses today.
Does 'quit' only mean leaving a job?
No. Beyond resigning, 'quit' widely means to stop doing something — quit smoking, quit complaining — or to exit, as in quitting an app or program. Its core idea is stopping or leaving, whether that is a job, a habit, an activity, or a piece of software.
What is the opposite of quit?
It depends on the sense. For a job, the opposite of quitting is to stay, remain, or continue working. For an activity or habit, the opposite is to continue, persist, or carry on. 'Quit' always implies stopping, so its antonyms centre on continuing, remaining, or keeping going.