To exit means to leave or go out of a place. When a movie ends, you exit the theater through the doors. When a performer exits the stage, they walk off into the wings. Fire drills teach students how to exit the building quickly and safely.

Every building has exit signs marking the doors you should use to leave, especially in emergencies. Theaters, airports, and shopping malls all have multiple exits so people can get out easily. Highway exits are ramps that let you leave the freeway and enter local streets.

You might see exit in old play scripts, telling an actor when to leave the stage. Shakespeare used it famously in the stage direction “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

In everyday speech, people use exit more formally than just saying “leave.” You might exit a meeting, exit a conversation gracefully, or help someone find an exit strategy when they're stuck in an awkward situation. The word suggests purpose and direction: when you exit, you're deliberately going out with clear intention, following a specific path or plan.