drop out
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle out
Meanings
Stop attending a school or course before finishing
Why “out”? Someone leaves a plan, group, promise, or activity they were part of.
“He dropped out of university.”
“Lena dropped out of the course.”
Don't confuse with
Drop out means leave a course before finishing. Drop off means take someone or something to a place and leave it there.
Test yourself
“He dropped out of university.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
drop off
A contrast learners often mix up
Take and leave someone or something at a location; Fall asleep, often unintentionally; Decrease in number, level or amount; Detach and fall away from something
back out
Same out pattern: withdrawal
Withdraw from a commitment or agreement
chicken out
Same out pattern: withdrawal
Decide not to do something at the last minute because you are afraid
opt out
Same out pattern: withdrawal
Choose not to take part in something
pull out
Same out pattern: withdrawal
Withdraw from a commitment
sit out
Same out pattern: withdrawal
Decide not to take part in an activity
drop back
Same base verb: drop
Move to a position further behind
drop behind
Same base verb: drop
Lose your position relative to a group moving ahead
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “drop out”.
Practice “drop out” in Sink In
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