Drop out meaning
Drop out means to leave school, college or a course before you finish it. It can also mean to stop taking part in something, like a race or a plan.
drop out
drop out · dropped · dropping
He dropped out of university after one year.
Drop out meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Leave school, college or a course before you finish it
drop out
- He dropped out of university after one year.
- Why did you drop out of the Spanish course?
- She didn’t drop out, even when money was tight.
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2
Stop taking part in something, like a race or a plan
drop out
- Two runners dropped out because of the heat.
- Our singer dropped out a week before the show.
- If anyone drops out, we’ll lose the group price.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use drop out in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is drop out separable?
Drop out has no object. Use of before the thing you leave: drop out of school, drop out of the race.
The noun is one word, dropout, and means a person: a college dropout. US English may say drop out of school; UK English often says leave school early.
Verb tenses for drop out
| Present | I drop out · she drops out |
|---|---|
| Past | dropped out |
| Present perfect | have dropped out |
| -ing form | dropping out |
Common mistakes with drop out
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: She dropped out the course in March.
Right: She dropped out of the course in March.
Use of before the course or school.
Wrong: He dropped out from university.
Right: He dropped out of university.
The usual preposition is of, not from.
Wrong: I dropped out my job last year.
Right: I quit my job last year.
For a job, say quit or leave; drop out is for studies and events.
Synonyms and opposites of drop out
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- quitstop a job or activity, more general
- give upstop trying, or stop a habit
- pull outstop taking part, often in a deal or race
Opposite
- graduatefinish your studies and get your degree
- sign upjoin a course or activity
Drop out quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Steve Jobs ___ of college but kept going to some classes.
Drop out of college means leave before finishing.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use drop out of + the thing you leave.
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3“Three teams have dropped out of the tournament.” What happened?
Drop out means stop taking part.
More phrasal verbs with drop
2 phrasal verbs start with drop. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Drop out FAQ
Questions people ask about drop out.
What is a dropout?
A dropout is a person who left school or college before finishing: a high school dropout. It can sound negative.
Drop out of or drop out from?
Drop out of is the normal form: drop out of school. Drop out from is less common.
What is the difference between drop out and drop off?
Drop out means leave a course or event early. Drop off means take someone somewhere, or fall asleep.
Use drop out in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.