quitting

Walking away from

Quitting is stopping or giving up an activity, job, or habit.

Someone quitting a job is resigning from it: She's quitting at the end of the month.

Quitting a habit means abandoning it: He's been trying to quit smoking for years.

The word often carries connotations of surrender or defeat: Quitting is not an option.

But quitting can also be a healthy choice—leaving something harmful or unfulfilling behind.

cessation

stopping

Ceasing to continue

endingFinal portion of something
discontinuingEnding ongoing activity
terminatingBringing to an end

halting · ceasing · abandoning · dropping · breaking off · giving up · letting go · walking away · cutting off · desisting

defeat

giving up

Choosing to stop trying

surrenderCease resistance, yield
throwing in towelDeclaring oneself beaten
admitting defeatAcknowledging loss openly

capitulation · conceding · backing down · caving · folding · abandoning ship · waving white flag · cutting losses · bailing out · chickening out

employment

resignation

Voluntary relinquishment of position

noticeBecome aware of
departureAct of going away
exit interviewDeparting worker's feedback session

severance · retirement · farewell · transition · handover · turnover · last day · career change · walking out · tendering

liberation

freedom

Absence of constraint

escapeFlight from captivity
releaseTo let go
fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened

breaking free · new beginning · relief · unburdened · emancipation · independence · moving on · letting go · closure · second chance

addiction

sobriety

Unimpaired mental state

recoveryRegaining what was lost
rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
detoxSubstance removal process

withdrawal · relapse · abstinence · 12-step · AA · sponsor · treatment · clean · sober · rehab

perseverance

determination

Firmness of purpose

willpowerMental strength resisting impulse
resolveFirmness of purpose
self-controlAbility to restrain impulses

discipline · commitment · strength · courage · grit · tenacity · motivation · resilience · fortitude · dedication

Categories

Leaving Officeresignation, abdication, stepping down, departure, exit
New Year's resolutionsI pledge, fresh start, clean slate, new chapter, starting over
Quitting a Jobnotice, two weeks notice, exit interview, last day, resignation letter
smokingsmoking, cigarette, cigar, pipe, lighter
work problemslayoff, firing, low pay, burnout, deadline pressure
defeatismdefeatism, giving up, hopelessness, resignation, capitulation

Opposites

persistence and continuation

quittingpersevering

Maintaining effort despite difficulty

persisting · continuing · enduring · sticking with it · pressing on

departure vs. arrival

quittingarriving

Reaching a destination

entering · appearing · arrival · entrance · coming

employment status change

quittingstarting

Initiating an action

joining · beginning · signing on · onboarding · staying

Phrases

quitting smokingEnding nicotine dependence
quitting timeEnd of workday
rage quittingAbandoning something while furious
quiet quittingWorking without exceeding requirements
quitting earlyStopping before the end
naked quittingQuitting without another job

Family

Familiarity: Top 5,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G