To quit means to stop doing something, usually something you've been doing regularly. When you quit a game, you stop playing. When someone quits their job, they leave it permanently. When you quit practicing piano, you decide not to continue with lessons anymore.

The word often implies giving up on something that requires effort or commitment. A runner might quit during a difficult race, a student might quit studying for a hard test, or a person might quit trying to learn a challenging skill. Sometimes quitting is the right choice: you might quit a hobby that no longer interests you or quit arguing when you realize it's not helping. Other times, quitting means backing away from something hard right when persistence could lead to success.

People use related phrases like call it quits, meaning to stop or end something. Two friends who keep losing at a video game might decide to call it quits and do something else.

Quitting can mean different things depending on the situation. Quitting smoking or quitting a bad habit takes real effort and determination. But the word can also describe stopping something simply because it's difficult, even when continuing might lead to something worthwhile.