To stop attending school, college, or a course before you have finished it.
He decided to drop out of university after his first year.
A: Did you hear about Sam? He dropped out of college last month. B: Really? I thought he was enjoying his classes.
If I could change one thing about my education, I would make it easier for students who drop out to return and finish their studies.
Common mistake
✗He dropped out from school.
✓He dropped out of school.
'Drop out OF' — not 'from'.
Tell it apart
He dropped out of college after a year.
quit before finishing
He graduated from college last year.
finished it
Use 'drop out' when someone leaves a course or school before completing it. Add 'of' if you mention the place or course.Not the same as 'give up', which means to stop trying, or 'drop off', which means to fall asleep or deliver something.
If a call or connection drops out, it suddenly cuts off because the signal is weak.
Sorry, you dropped out for a second there — can you say that last bit again?
The call keeps dropping out — I think I've got a really bad signal here.
You keep dropping out — I can't hear you. (call cutting off) He dropped out of university. (quit the course)
Common mistake
✗You're dropping off, I can't hear you.
✓You're dropping out, I can't hear you.
For a bad signal it's 'drop out' (or 'cut out'); 'drop off' means fall asleep.
Tell it apart
You keep dropping out — I can't hear you.
call cutting off
He dropped out of university.
quit the course
Used a lot on video and phone calls when someone disappears briefly.Different from 'drop off' (fall asleep / deliver something); this sense is about a call or signal cutting out.