exit
A2Neutral to formal. The verb 'exit' is slightly more formal than 'leave' in everyday contexts, especially as an intransitive verb.
Definition
Meaning
A way out of a building, room, or vehicle; the act of leaving or going out.
The departure of a person from a situation, role, or organization; a point in a computer program where it stops running; to leave a place or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, 'exit' typically implies a designated point of departure. As a verb, it implies a deliberate, often formal, or stage-managed departure. It is also used in computing and software contexts (e.g., 'exit the application').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or usage differences. In the context of roads, the UK uses 'exit' on motorways, but older signs may use 'Way Out'. The stage direction 'Exit' (meaning a character leaves the scene) is standard in both.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. 'Emergency exit' is universal. The verb form may sound slightly more formal or bureaucratic in everyday British English compared to 'leave'.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[intransitive] The audience exited quietly.[transitive] Please exit the building.[transitive + object + from] He exited the company from his role as CEO.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Make a quick exit”
- “Exit stage left”
- “Have one foot out the exit”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to leaving a market, a company role, or an investment (e.g., 'The firm planned its exit from the European market').
Academic
Used in discussions of narratives, algorithms, or systems (e.g., 'The protagonist's exit from the story symbolizes...').
Everyday
Most commonly refers to leaving a building, room, or vehicle (e.g., 'Use the rear exit').
Technical
In computing, a command or point where a program or subroutine stops execution (e.g., 'The function contains multiple exit points').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please exit via the rear doors.
- The actor exited stage left to great applause.
- You must exit the programme before installing updates.
American English
- Exit the freeway at Main Street.
- He exited the meeting early.
- The player exited the game due to injury.
adjective
British English
- The exit door was clearly marked.
- We reviewed the exit strategy.
- Follow the exit route to the assembly point.
American English
- The exit ramp was closed for construction.
- What's your exit plan?
- All exit polls pointed to a close race.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The exit is over there.
- We left through the main exit.
- Please wait by the exit.
- In case of fire, use the nearest emergency exit.
- He made a quick exit when he saw his boss.
- The sign above the door says 'Exit'.
- The company needs a clear exit strategy for its investors.
- The actor's dramatic exit captivated the audience.
- You can exit the application by clicking 'Quit'.
- His abrupt exit from the negotiations jeopardized the entire deal.
- The algorithm has multiple conditional exit points.
- She executed a graceful exit from a challenging political role.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EXIT signs are everywhere. Think: 'EXactly where I leave' - the first two letters of 'EXactly' and the last two of 'leavIT' make EXIT.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / A BUILDING. Leaving a situation is conceptualized as walking through an exit door (e.g., 'looking for an exit from this relationship').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'exit' as a direct translation for выход in abstract contexts like 'solution' (it's 'way out').
- The verb 'to exit' is more specific/formal than просто 'уходить'. Use 'leave' for most everyday contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'exit from' unnecessarily (e.g., 'He exited from the room' is less idiomatic than 'He exited the room').
- Confusing 'exit' with 'entrance' due to similar-looking signage in unfamiliar buildings.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'exit' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is used metaphorically for leaving situations, jobs, markets, and in computing to stop a program.
'Exit' is more specific, often implying a formal or designated point of departure. 'Leave' is more general and common in everyday speech.
In American English, it's commonly pronounced /ˈeɡ.zɪt/ (EG-zit), with a voiced 'gz' sound, unlike the British /ˈek.sɪt/ (EK-sit).
Yes, it can be used transitively (e.g., 'Exit the building'), though this is sometimes considered more formal than 'leave the building'.
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