What is quit? Pronunciation and usage in English

quit means . Learn how to pronounce and use quit through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of quit

quitverb

/kwɪt/
Definition & pronunciation of quit

The word "quit" is pronounced "quit" – just like the word "kit" but with a "qu" at the beginning.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds:

  • "qu": A quick, sharp sound, like you're saying "kwit" very quickly. It's not a drawn-out "queue" sound.
  • "it": Pronounced like the word "it."

You can hear it here:

  • Google: Search for "how to pronounce quit" on Google and listen to the audio example.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/quit/ - This website has recordings of native speakers saying the word in different accents.

Do you want me to break down any specific part of the pronunciation, like the "qu" sound, or perhaps give you some example sentences?

Usage and examples with the word quit in English

Let's break down how to use the word "quit" in English. It's a versatile word with several different meanings and uses. Here's a breakdown with examples:

1. To Stop (an activity, habit, or job)

This is the most common meaning. "Quit" means to cease doing something, often abruptly.

  • Examples:
    • "I quit my job last week." (Stopped working)
    • "He quit smoking." (Stopped smoking)
    • "She quit playing the piano." (Stopped playing)
    • "Don't quit! You're almost there!" (Don't give up!)

2. To Leave (a place or situation)

You can use "quit" to mean to leave, especially to depart suddenly or without notice.

  • Examples:
    • "He quit the meeting early." (Left the meeting)
    • "She quit the party without saying goodbye." (Left the party)
    • "They quit the country to escape the war." (Left the country)

3. (Informal) To Give Up / Stop Trying

This usage is more informal and often implies frustration or difficulty.

  • Examples:
    • "Don't quit on me now!" (Don't give up on me!)
    • "I'm about to quit this project." (I'm about to give up on this project)
    • "He quit trying to fix the car." (He stopped trying to fix the car)

4. (Slang - Primarily American) To Stop Using (drugs, alcohol)

  • Example:
    • "He quit drinking after the accident." (Stopped drinking)

5. (Archaic/Less Common) To Die

This usage is very old-fashioned and rarely used today.

  • Example: (Historical) “He quit in his sleep.” (He died in his sleep.)

Important Notes & Grammar:

  • "Quit" vs. "Give Up": While often used interchangeably, "quit" tends to imply a more decisive, perhaps even defiant, action. "Give up" is often more about acknowledging difficulty and deciding to stop.

  • "Quit" as a Verb (Action): It’s almost always a verb – a word that describes an action.

  • "Quit" as an Adjective (Rare): Very rarely, “quit” can be used as an adjective, meaning "abandoned" or "left behind." This is unusual. Example: "He left a quit area." (meaning he left a desolate area)

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Usage Meaning Example
1. To Stop To cease an activity "I quit my job."
2. To Leave To depart "She quit the party."
3. (Informal) To give up "Don't quit!"
4. (Slang) To stop using (drugs) "He quit drinking."
5. (Archaic) To die “He quit in his sleep.”

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Synonyms for the word quit

Practice with vocabulary quit

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. After years of unhealthy eating habits, she decided to finally _____ sugar and processed foods.
  2. The company was forced to _____ operations in the struggling market due to unsustainable losses.
  3. Despite facing significant challenges, he refused to _____ his dream of starting his own tech company.
  4. Following disagreements with the board, the CEO announced his decision to _____ from his position effective next month.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which options best describe someone ending their employment voluntarily? a) quit b) resign c) get laid off d) step down e) be dismissed

  2. To successfully overcome a bad habit, one must often ______ it entirely. a) quit b) give up c) tolerate d) embrace e) discontinue

  3. If a team decides to ______ a challenging project, it means they are no longer pursuing it. a) quit b) abandon c) forfeit d) initiate e) maintain

  4. Due to the company's financial restructuring, several long-term employees were asked to ______ their positions. a) volunteer b) step down from c) retire from d) apply for e) transfer to

  5. The board voted to ______ the merger negotiations after irreconcilable differences emerged. a) commence b) terminate c) extend d) suspend e) cease

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: Despite the difficulties, she didn't give up on her ambition to become a renowned scientist. Rewrite using "quit" or related word forms:

  2. Original: He decided to stop his current job and look for new opportunities abroad. Rewrite using "quit" or related word forms:

  3. Original: The government indicated that it might quit providing subsidies for the failing industry. Rewrite NOT using "quit", but a suitable replacement word:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. quit
  2. discontinue
  3. quit
  4. resign

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) quit, b) resign, d) step down
  2. a) quit, b) give up, e) discontinue
  3. a) quit, b) abandon, c) forfeit
  4. b) step down from, c) retire from
  5. b) terminate, d) suspend, e) cease

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Despite the difficulties, she refused to quit her ambition to become a renowned scientist.
  2. He decided to quit his current job and look for new opportunities abroad.
  3. The government indicated that it might cease providing subsidies for the failing industry.

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