What does quitting mean?
Quitting means stopping an activity, giving up a pursuit, or leaving a position voluntarily. The word is especially common in phrases such as “quitting a job,” “quitting smoking,” and “quitting the race.” Although it can imply failure, quitting can also be a deliberate and practical decision: a person may leave an unsuitable job, abandon a poorly performing strategy, or withdraw from a competition because continuing is no longer worthwhile. In this sense, quitting carries connotations of self-awareness and self-control rather than simply surrender. The verb is standard in both British and American English, while “quit” is generally the more familiar base form. “Quitting time” is a familiar informal expression for the end of a working day or the moment when someone leaves.
verbQuitting is stopping participation in an activity, giving up something one has undertaken, or leaving a job, school, or other organization. It can also mean leaving a race, competition, or place before completion.
- Giving up an activity or abandoning a plan, pursuit, or undertaking.
- Leaving a job, school, organization, or other position voluntarily.
- Withdrawing from a race, competition, or contest before completing it.
"She decided quitting the competition was better than continuing when she realized she was seriously injured."
"He credits quitting smoking for improving his health and saving money."
"After many years in the industry, she is quitting her position to begin a new career."
Sometimes quitting is not giving up—it is the decision to stop pouring effort where it no longer works.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quitting come from?
The English verb “quit” derives from Old French quiter, meaning to release or set free, which comes from Latin quitare, ultimately connected with quies, “rest.” Its earlier senses included releasing and acquitting, while the modern sense of giving up or stopping developed later. The gerund and participle “quitting” is the regular inflected form of “quit.” English relatives such as quiet, quite, acquit, and requite also trace back ultimately to the same Latin root associated with rest.
Related word forms
How quitting is actually used
Common in both British and American English. The form is especially natural with activities such as smoking, a job, or a race. In the phrase “quitting time,” it is informal and means the time to stop work or leave.