The terms "withdraw," "cancel," "resign," "quit," and "leave" each convey distinct actions and implications. These words capture a spectrum of actions related to disengagement, each carrying its own nuances and implications. This blogpost goes into detail of the nuanced use of each word.
From the following graph, we can see that other than the word "leave," the other words (withdraw, resign, quit and leave) are used in similar amounts. With this in mind, it is important to know the nuanced difference of each word, so that you are able to use each one of them accurately and like a native speaker.
Withdraw
"Withdraw" typically implies removing oneself from a situation, be it physical or metaphorical, often for strategic or safety reasons.
Example sentences
- Sarah decided to withdraw her application for the job after receiving a better offer from another company.
- The bank allows customers to withdraw cash from their accounts using ATMs located throughout the city.
- When faced with the challenging situation, she chose to withdraw from the argument to avoid unnecessary conflict.
- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the team had to withdraw from the competition, much to their disappointment.
- It's important to know the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting certain substances, as they can be quite severe.
Common idioms that are similar to withdraw:
- Throw in the towel: To give up or surrender, often in the face of adversity.
- Back out: To withdraw from a commitment or situation.
- Take a step back: To retreat or withdraw from a situation to gain perspective.
- Pull out: To remove oneself or something from a particular situation or place.
Cancel
"Cancel" pertains to the annulment or termination of a scheduled event, arrangement, or commitment, often due to unforeseen circumstances or a change of plans.
Example sentences
- I had to cancel my dinner plans with a friend last night because I wasn't feeling well.
- The airline canceled my flight due to inclement weather, leaving me stranded at the airport.
- The event organizers had to cancel the outdoor concert because of the heavy rain forecast.
- To avoid being charged a fee, please make sure to cancel your subscription before the next billing cycle.
- I'm sorry, but I'll have to cancel our meeting tomorrow as something urgent has come up at work.
Common idioms that are similar to cancel:
- Call off: To decide not to proceed with an event, plan, or arrangement.
- Nix: To reject, scrap, or cancel something.
- Scratch (something) out: To remove or cancel something from a list or schedule.
- Abort mission: A more informal way to indicate the cancellation of a plan or mission.
Resign
"Resign" refers to formally stepping down from a position or role, often in a professional or organizational context, and usually involves notifying relevant authorities.
Example sentences
- John decided to resign from his position as the company's CEO, citing personal reasons for his departure.
- After a long and successful career, the professor chose to resign from his teaching position and enjoy retirement.
- The employee was unhappy with the working conditions and decided to resign from the company without giving notice.
- The mayor's decision to resign from office came as a shock to many, and a special election was called to find a replacement.
- She submitted her formal letter of resignation to her supervisor, giving two weeks' notice before leaving the job.
Common idioms that are similar to resign:
- Throw in the towel: Similar to withdrawing, it means to give up or surrender, often used in the context of resigning from a difficult situation.
- Step down: To formally relinquish a position of authority or responsibility.
- Hand in one's notice: To submit a formal resignation letter or notice of resignation.
- Call it quits: To decide to stop doing something, often related to work or a project.
Quit
"Quit" signifies voluntarily ending one's association with a job, task, or endeavor, often with the option to return at a later time.
Example sentences
- After years of struggling with the demanding workload, she finally decided to quit her high-stress job and focus on her health.
- Despite the challenges, he refused to quit, and his determination eventually led him to success in his chosen career.
- I strongly advise you not to quit the project just because it's difficult – perseverance often leads to great rewards.
- Due to personal reasons, he had to quit the soccer team, which was a tough decision for him as he was passionate about the sport.
- The constant pressure and stress at the company made him realize it was time to quit, even though he had initially enjoyed his work.
Common idioms that are similar to quit:
- Throw in the towel: As mentioned above, it means to give up or stop trying.
- Give up: To stop trying or put an end to an activity or endeavor.
- Walk away: To leave a situation, job, or relationship, often implying a decision to quit.
- Throw in the sponge: A less common variant of "throw in the towel."
Leave
Lastly, "leave" encompasses a broader range of actions, simply indicating the act of departing or going away from a place, situation, or relationship, without specifying the circumstances or motivations behind the departure.
Example sentences
- She had to leave early for the airport to catch her flight, so she said her goodbyes to her family.
- Please don't leave the door open; it lets in a lot of cold air.
- After finishing his work, he decided to leave the office and enjoy the rest of the day.
- It's essential to leave a note or message when you're going out so that others know your whereabouts.
- The decision to leave the old house and move to a new city was a difficult one, but it marked the start of a new chapter in their lives.
Common idioms that are similar to leave:
- Take off: To go away or leave, often used informally.
- Hit the road: To begin a journey or leave a place.
- Make oneself scarce: To leave a situation or place, typically to avoid trouble.
- Beat a hasty retreat: To quickly and urgently depart from a situation or place.
Practice Questions
Instructions: Match each sentence with the correct word from the word bank
Word Bank: Withdraw, Resign, Quit, Leave, Cancel, Withdraw, Resign, Quit, Leave, Cancel
- She decided to ___ her job because of personal reasons.
- After the customer's complaint, the store had to ___ the sale of the defective product.
- Due to a family emergency, he had to ___ the meeting early.
- The athlete had to ___ from the competition due to an injury.
- Please don't forget to ___ the door when you go out.
- Mary decided to ___ her position at the company because she found a better job.
- Due to bad weather, the airline had to ___ the flight, leaving passengers disappointed.
- After winning the lottery, he chose to ___ from his job and travel the world.
- I had to ___ some money from my bank account to pay for the unexpected expenses.
- The organizers had to ___ the event because not enough people registered.
- If you don't feel well, it's best to ___ the party and rest at home.
- Sarah was in a hurry, so she had to ___ her plans to meet her friend for lunch.
Answer Key:
- Resign
- Cancel
- Leave
- Withdraw
- Close
- Quit
- Cancel
- Quit
- Withdraw
- Cancel
- Leave
- Cancel
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