Leave vs. Quit
Both verbs mean to stop doing something but they have a subtle difference which we are going to discuss in this lesson.
While 'leave' mainly means to go away from a place, it can also mean to stop doing something, such as working somewhere or studying something, permanently and without intention of returning. This meaning of the verb is closely related to the verb 'quit' which means to resign or leave a job, position, or membership in an organization. This lesson will explore the similarities and differences between these two verbs.
Similarity
Both 'leave' and 'quit' mean to stop working in a place, studying in an institution, etc. Both verbs imply voluntary actions that are driven by one's own choice or decision, rather than being imposed by external force. Take a look at the examples:
The musician
The musician
She
Sarah made the difficult decision to
Difference
When 'leave' is used to talk about abandoning a place, it is not interchangeable with 'quit', even if the place mentioned refers to a place of work or study. For example:
He
Although leaving a company means leaving the job or position one has within that company, the verb 'leave' is not interchangeable with 'quit' in this sentence.
They had
In this sentence, 'left their hometown' means they stopped living in that town rather than they moved away from the town, for example to travel. However, we cannot use 'quit' in this sentence.
Tip!
Keep in mind that 'quit' is an informal term and is not suitable in formal contexts.