DROP OUT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does drop out mean? 

• DROP OUT (verb)
  The verb DROP OUT has 3 senses:

1. give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat

2. withdraw from established society, especially because of disillusion with conventional values

3. leave school or an educational program prematurely

  Familiarity information: DROP OUT used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DROP OUT (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

chuck up the sponge; drop by the wayside; drop out; fall by the wayside; give up; quit; throw in; throw in the towel

Context example:

In the second round, the challenger gave up

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

enter (become a participant; be involved in)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Withdraw from established society, especially because of disillusion with conventional values

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

She hasn't heard from her brother in years--he dropped out after moving to California

Hypernyms (to "drop out" is one way to...):

retire; withdraw (withdraw from active participation)

Verb group:

drop out (leave school or an educational program prematurely)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Leave school or an educational program prematurely

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

Many students drop out because they are not prepared for our challenging program

Hypernyms (to "drop out" is one way to...):

depart; leave; pull up stakes (remove oneself from an association with or participation in)

Verb group:

drop out (withdraw from established society, especially because of disillusion with conventional values)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

dropout (someone who quits school before graduation)

 Context examples 

The bottom’s likely to drop out at any moment.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)