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.

What is the difference between 'leave' and 'quit'?

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 quit the band after a disagreement with the other members.

The musician left the band after a disagreement with the other members.

She quit her job to travel the world.

Sarah made the difficult decision to leave college and pursue a different path.

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 left the company two years ago.

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 left their hometown by the time the war started.

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.

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