noun
quitter
KWIH-tuh
noun
1
Someone who gives up too easily instead of finishing what they started.
"Don't be a quitter — finish the race even if you're last."
"He quit the team after one bad game; everyone called him a quitter."
2
Someone who has successfully stopped a bad habit, especially smoking or drinking.
"As a proud quitter of ten years, she still keeps a lighter in her drawer as a reminder."
How to Use Quitter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who gives up on something, or one who has broken free of a habit.
Common mistake
Context decides the meaning — "quitter" can be an insult (gives up too easily) or a compliment (beat an addiction).
Word Forms
quittered past tense, quitters plural, quitters singular
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Don't be a _____ — finish the race even if you're last.
Etymology
Traces back to a Middle English word for a burn mark or scar, ultimately linked to a French verb meaning "to cook" — the modern sense of "one who quits" developed separately in English.