To withdraw from a course, competition, organisation, or conventional lifestyle before completion.
Stop doing something you were supposed to finish, like leaving school or quitting a race.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To leave a school, university, or educational programme before completing it.
"He dropped out of university after two terms to start his own business."
I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months.
— Steve Jobs, Stanford University Commencement Address (2005)
To withdraw from a race, competition, or selection process.
"Three candidates dropped out of the leadership race in the final week."
To reject conventional society and its values, especially by leaving mainstream employment or education.
"In the 1960s, many young people chose to drop out and live in communes."
Turn on, tune in, drop out.
— Timothy Leary, catchphrase popularised at the Human Be-In, San Francisco (1967)
To fall out of something.
Stop doing something you were supposed to finish, like leaving school or quitting a race.
Most strongly associated with leaving school or university before graduating. Also used for withdrawing from competitions, races, or political races. The noun 'dropout' refers to someone who has left education early.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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