exit

1 of 3

script annotation

ex·​it ˈeg-zət  ˈek-sət 

—used as a stage direction to specify who goes off stage

exit

2 of 3

noun

1

: a departure from a stage

2

a

: the act of going out or away

made an early exit

b

: death

3

: a way out of an enclosed place or space

4

: one of the designated points of departure from an expressway

exitless adjective

exit

3 of 3

verb

exited; exiting; exits

intransitive verb

1

: to go out or away : depart

2

: die

transitive verb

1

: leave sense 3a

2

: to cause (a computer program or routine) to cease running

Synonyms

Noun

• egress
• issue
• outlet

Verb

• bail
• bail out
• begone
• book [slang]
• bug off
• bug out
• bugger off [British slang]
• buzz (off)
• clear off [chiefly British]
• clear out
• cut out
• depart
• dig out
• get
• get off
• go
• go off
• move
• pack (up or off)
• part
• peel off
• pike (out or off)
• pull out
• push off
• push on
• quit
• run along
• sally (forth)
• scarper [British]
• shove (off)
• step (along)
• take off
• vamoose
• walk out

Examples of exit in a Sentence

Noun

Use the emergency exit in case of fire.

There are 12 exits in the building.

We can't get out this way: the sign says “No Exit.”

Verb

The team exited the tournament early.

Save your work and then exit the program.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Meryl's nephew, Abe Streep, penned an article for New York Magazine and shared that a tree fell onto his aunt's driveway, which blocked her only exit from her home. —Janelle Ash, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025

Sources told The New York Times that his exit from CNN happened as a result of a clash between Acosta and network heads over a decision to move his show to a midnight time slot, which would have lowered his opportunity for viewership. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Verb

Strong and her daughter safely exited their home and waited for officers from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to arrive. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025

Another attorney — Radhika, 28, from New York — exits the limo doing a Bollywood dance, and Allyshia (29-year-old interior designer from Florida) asks the Bachelor to make a wish on her magic lamp. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Script annotation

borrowed from Latin, third person singular present indicative of exeō, exīre "to come or go out," from ex- ex- entry 1 + īre "to go" — more at issue entry 1

Noun

in part derivative of exit entry 1 or exit entry 3, in part borrowed from Latin exitus "act of going out, departure, means of departure, way out, final point, conclusion," from exi-, variant stem of exīre "to come or go out" (from ex- ex- entry 1 + īre "to go") + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at issue entry 1

Verb

derivative of exit entry 1 or exit entry 2

First Known Use

Script Annotation

circa 1548, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing exit

• exit poll
• exit strategy
• exit visa
• make a quick exit

Kids Definition

exit

1 of 3

ex·​it ˈeg-zət  ˈek-sət 

—used as a stage direction to indicate who goes off the stage

exit

2 of 3 noun

1

: a departure from a stage

2

: the act of going out or away

3

: a way to go out of a place

exit

3 of 3 verb

: to go out : leave, depart

Etymology

from Latin exit "he or she goes out," from exire "to go out," from ex- "out of, from" and ire "to go" — related to issue, itinerary