Exit vs Sign-outs

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Exit

Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun

Sign-outs

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Exit
 ExitSign-outs
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈeksɪt//ˈeɡzɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈeksɪt//ˈeɡzɪt/"]/🇬🇧 //ˈsaɪn.aʊts//🇺🇸 //ˈsaɪn.aʊts//
Meaningthe way out of a placeWhen people leave or log off from a system or place.
ExamplePlease locate the nearest exit in case of an emergency.After finishing my work, I made sure to complete my sign-outs.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsback, rear, side, head for, make for, bolt for, sign, door, gate, to the exit, towards/​toward the exit, exit from, freeway, highway, interstate, get off at, take, ramp, point, exit for, exit to, fast, hasty, quick, make, visa, poll, plan, exit fromcomplete sign-outs, daily sign-outs, record sign-outs, sign-outs sheet, authorize sign-outs
Antonymsentrance, entrysign-ins, log ins
Common mistakesConfused with 'exceed' or 'exile', Using 'exiting' incorrectly as a gerund when an action is not intended, Misplacing 'exit' in sentences, leading to awkward phrasingConfused with 'sign-in' which means to log in instead of log out., Using 'sign-out' as a noun incorrectly when it should be plural., Forgetting to use 'of' after 'sign out' when mentioning the system.
Usage notesUse 'exit' when talking about leaving a place, especially in directions or instructions. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'leave' might fit better.Used in both formal and informal contexts to indicate when someone is leaving a location or logging off an account. Generally appropriate in workplace and educational settings.

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Exit
Sign-outs

Frequently asked questions: Exit vs Sign-outs

What's the difference between Exit and Sign-outs?

Exit: the way out of a place Sign-outs: When people leave or log off from a system or place.

Which is more common: Exit and Sign-outs?

Exit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Exit: Please locate the nearest exit in case of an emergency. Sign-outs: After finishing my work, I made sure to complete my sign-outs.

Can I use Exit and Sign-outs interchangeably?

Not always. Exit and Sign-outs 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.

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