quit1

[kwit] /kwɪt/
verb (used with object), quit or quitted, quitting.
1.
to stop, cease, or discontinue:
She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house.
2.
to depart from; leave (a place or person):
They quit the city for the seashore every summer.
3.
to give up or resign; let go; relinquish:
He quit his claim to the throne. She quit her job.
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 quitted, quitting.
8.
to cease from doing something; stop.
9.
to give up or resign one's job or position:
He keeps threatening to quit.
10.
to depart or leave.
11.
to stop trying, struggling, or the like; accept or acknowledge defeat.
adjective
12.
released from obligation, penalty, etc.; free, clear, or rid (usually followed by of):
quit of all further responsibilities.
Origin
1175-1225; (adj.) Middle English quit(te) exempt, freed, acquitted of (< Old French quite) < Medieval Latin quittus, by-form of quītus (≫ Middle English quit(e); see quite), for Latin quiētus quiet1; (v.) Middle English quit(t)en to pay, acquit oneself < Old French quit(t)er < Medieval Latin quittāre, quiētāre to release, discharge, Late Latin quiētare to put to rest, quiet1
Related forms
quittable, adjective
unquitted, adjective
Synonyms
3. surrender, release. 12. acquitted, discharged.
Antonyms
1, 8. start. 2. enter.

quit2

[kwit] /kwɪt/
noun
1.
any of various small tropical birds.
Origin
1845-50; orig. Jamaican English, of uncertain origin
Examples from the web for quit
  • Wake them, and they shall quit the false good and leap to the true, and leave governments to clerks and desks.
  • When a doctor suggested that he abandon "wine, women and song," he asked if he had to quit everything at once.
  • It's amazing how many people have quit smoking in the past generation.
  • The last two park rangers quit because of ghosts.
  • She quit her job as an editor and eventually moved to Connecticut full-time.
  • And after three months she realized she could quit her day job altogether.
  • He quit school to fly to Australia to try to get a job on the ship.
  • Last year I almost quit writing.
  • The telecommuters were also less likely to quit their jobs, which meant less turnover for the company.
  • Tens of thousands of people decided to quit the city altogether.
British Dictionary definitions for quit

quit

/kwɪt/
verb quits, quitting quitted, (mainly US) quit
1.
(transitive) to depart from; leave: he quitted the place hastily
2.
to resign; give up (a job): he quitted his job today
3.
(intransitive) (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.
(transitive) to pay off (a debt); discharge or settle
6.
(transitive) (archaic) to conduct or acquit (oneself); comport (oneself): he quits himself with great dignity
adjective
7.
(usually predicative) foll by of. free (from); released (from): he was quit of all responsibility for their safety
Word Origin
C13: from Old French quitter, from Latin quiētusquiet; see quietus
Word Origin and History for quit
adj.

c.1200, "free, clear" (of debt, etc.), from Old French quite, quitte "free, clear, entire, at liberty; discharged; unmarried," from Medieval Latin quitus, quittus, from Latin quietus "free" (in Medieval Latin "free from war, debts, etc."), also "calm, resting" (see quiet (adj.)).

v.

c.1200, "to repay, discharge" (a debt, etc.), from Old French quiter "clear, establish one's innocence;" also transitive, "release, let go, relinquish, abandon" (12c.), from quite (see quit (adj.)).

Meaning "to reward, give reward" is mid-13c., that of "take revenge; to answer, retort" and "to acquit oneself" are late 14c. From c.1300 as "to acquit (of a charge), declare not guilty." Sense of "leave, depart" is attested from c.1400; that of "stop" (doing something) is from 1640s. Meaning "to give up, relinquish" is from mid-15c. Related: Quitted; quitting. Quitting time is from 1835.

Idioms and Phrases with quit

quit

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