walkout
C1formal/informal (context-dependent)
Definition
Meaning
An act of leaving a place or organization as a form of protest or disagreement.
A strike where workers leave their workplace. Also refers to a similar protest in other contexts (e.g., walking out of a meeting, conference, or performance). Can also be a door that opens directly to the outside, especially from a basement.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun referring to an organized protest action. The secondary, architectural meaning (door) is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The protest/strike meaning is identical in both variants. The architectural term 'walkout basement' (a basement with a door to ground level) is more prevalent in North American real estate terminology.
Connotations
Strong connotation of organized labor protest. Can imply solidarity and collective action. In political contexts, implies strong dissent.
Frequency
More frequent in US news media regarding labor disputes. In UK, 'strike' is more common general term, but 'walkout' is used for spontaneous or sudden actions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJECT] staged a walkout over [ISSUE]The [GROUP] walked out in protest of [ACTION]A walkout by [GROUP] disrupted [EVENT]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stage a walkout”
- “Walk out in protest”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a labor strike disrupting operations, e.g., 'The walkout halted production at the plant.'
Academic
Used in sociology/political science discussing forms of protest, e.g., 'The student walkout became a significant symbolic act.'
Everyday
Describing a protest one sees in the news or a group leaving an event, e.g., 'There was a walkout during the headteacher's speech.'
Technical
In labor relations, a specific type of strike action. In architecture, a type of basement door.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The delegates threatened to walk out if the vote was ignored.
- Half the audience walked out during the controversial scene.
American English
- The union members voted to walk out at noon.
- Several senators walked out in protest of the procedural motion.
adverb
British English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The walkout action was condemned by management.
- They faced walkout threats for weeks.
American English
- They live in a house with a walkout basement.
- The walkout protest garnered national attention.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The workers did not like their pay, so they had a walkout.
- The students did a walkout from the classroom.
- The train drivers' walkout caused many cancellations yesterday.
- There was a short walkout at the factory over safety issues.
- The sudden walkout by air traffic controllers stranded thousands of passengers.
- Delegates staged a dramatic walkout during the climate summit to protest the weak agreement.
- The wildcat walkout, unsanctioned by the union leadership, caught the management completely off guard.
- Her keynote address was met with a coordinated walkout by activists who deemed her policies unacceptable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: WALK OUT of the building to protest. The action (noun) of walking out.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTEST IS PHYSICAL DEPARTURE; DISAGREEMENT IS WITHDRAWAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите буквально как "выходная прогулка".
- Основное значение связано с забастовкой или акцией протеста (забастовка, выход в знак протеста).
- Архитектурный термин "walkout basement" не имеет прямого аналога; описывается как "подвал с выходом на улицу".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'walkout' as a verb (verb is 'to walk out').
- Confusing 'walkout' (protest) with 'walk-out' (often same, but hyphen may be used adjectivally).
- Overusing for any departure; it implies organized protest.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'walkout' in a news headline?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'walkout' is a noun. The verb form is the phrasal verb 'to walk out'.
A walkout is often a specific type of strike, typically implying a sudden or spontaneous departure from the workplace. All walkouts are strikes, but not all strikes are called 'walkouts'.
Yes, but it implies the departure is a deliberate, organized act of protest, not just leaving early. E.g., 'The opposition MPs staged a walkout during the Prime Minister's speech.'
Primarily a North American term for a basement that is at ground level on one side, allowing you to 'walk out' directly to the yard, as opposed to needing stairs to go up.