Drop out means to leave school or a course before finishing it, or to withdraw from a competition or project. In both meanings, a person stops taking part before the end.
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drop out of + school/university/a course; drop out of + a race/project; a dropout
- She dropped out of her law course because she wanted to become a nurse.
- Two runners dropped out of the race after the first ten kilometres.
- One of our sponsors dropped out at the last minute, so we had to find a new one.
What changed
First versionHe dropped out university after the first year to start a business.
RevisionHe dropped out of university after the first year to start a business.
Drop out doesn't take a direct object; what you leave is introduced with of: dropped out of university. It's easy to lose the of because quit and leave take a direct object: quit university, left university.
Drop out means the person leaves by choice. If a student is made to leave for missing classes or cheating, you say be expelled, or informally be kicked out: He was expelled for cheating. Drop out also gives the noun dropout, someone who left their studies: a college dropout.
Your turn
Halfway through the marathon, Tom hurt his knee and had to ___.
Show the answer
drop out — Tom is injured and can't keep running, so he leaves the race: drop out. Drop off means to fall asleep or to let someone out of a car, and neither fits a marathon.
Write about someone you know who dropped out of their studies, a course or a competition. Say what exactly they left and why.
My cousin dropped out of his engineering course after one year because a gaming studio offered him a job.
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