Cool MateQuit vs Resign
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Quit
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Resign
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Most common: Quit
| Quit | Resign | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //rɪˈzaɪn//🇺🇸 //rɪˈzaɪn// |
| Meaning | To stop doing something or leave a job. | To quit a job or position. |
| Example | She decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for painting. | She decided to resign from her position after five years. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | altogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quit, altogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quit, altogether, abruptly, suddenly, try to, decide to, be ready to, as, over, give notice to quit, issue notice to quit, know when to quit | resign from a job, resign with notice, resign the position |
| Antonyms | continue, persist, resume | accept, retain, stay |
| Common mistakes | 'Quit' is sometimes confused with 'give up', but 'quit' implies ending something permanently., 'Quit' is often incorrectly used with 'on' when indicating stopping a habit; it should be 'quit smoking', not 'quit on smoking'., Learners might misuse tenses, saying 'I quitted' instead of 'I quit'. | Confused with 'design'; both have different meanings., Using 'resign' when referring to leaving a task but not a position., Incorrectly implying a sense of defeat or failure instead of a voluntary choice. |
| Usage notes | Use 'quit' in contexts where someone stops an activity, like a job or a habit. It's usually more neutral; avoid using it in very formal contexts. | Used in formal contexts, typically referring to jobs or positions. Less common in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Quit vs Resign
What's the difference between Quit and Resign?
Quit: To stop doing something or leave a job. Resign: To quit a job or position.
Which is more common: Quit and Resign?
Quit is the most common in everyday English.
Are Quit and Resign the same CEFR level?
Quit: B1, Resign: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Quit and Resign interchangeably?
Not always. Quit and Resign are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.