Cool MateQuit vs Walked out on
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Quit
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Walked out on
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: QuitMost common: Quit
| Quit | Walked out on | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kwɪt/","/kwɪts/","/ˈkwɪtɪd/","/ˈkwɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɔːkt aʊt ɒn//🇺🇸 //wɔkt aʊt ɑn// |
| Meaning | To stop doing something or leave a job. | left someone unexpectedly or without warning |
| Example | She decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for painting. | She walked out on him after their big argument. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | 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 | walk out on a relationship, walk out on a job, walk out on someone |
| Antonyms | continue, persist, resume | stayed with, supported |
| 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'. | Using 'walked out' without specifying the person (e.g., 'walked out on him' is clearer), Confusing with 'gave up on,' which has a different meaning, Omitting 'on' (it should always be 'walked out on') |
| 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 informal contexts to describe ending a relationship or leaving a situation abruptly. Avoid in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Quit vs Walked out on
What's the difference between Quit and Walked out on?
Quit: To stop doing something or leave a job. Walked out on: left someone unexpectedly or without warning
Which is more formal: Quit and Walked out on?
Quit is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Quit and Walked out on?
Quit is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Quit: She decided to quit her job and pursue her passion for painting. Walked out on: She walked out on him after their big argument.
Can I use Quit and Walked out on interchangeably?
Not always. Quit and Walked out on 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.