drop·out
ˈdräp-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: one who drops out of school
b
: one who drops out of conventional society
c
: one who abandons an attempt, activity, or chosen path
a corporate dropout
2
: a momentary defect on a magnetic tape or disk caused by a temporary loss of signal
dropped out; dropping out; drops out
: to withdraw from participation or membership : quit
especially
: to withdraw from conventional society
Examples of dropout in a Sentence
Noun
The program is designed for dropouts who wish to get high school equivalency certificates.
Recent Examples on the Web
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
So says the pilot of Suits, a legal drama about Mike Ross, a college dropout who becomes a law associate under the mentorship of Harvey Specter, one of the top closers in New York City.
—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
When things get dicey in Moscow, Vladimir Putin tends to drop out of sight for a while, retreating to one of his residences and canceling public events.
—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for dropout
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Additionally, the researchers did not specify the exact dropout rates or detail how the routine might affect seniors who already relied on assistive devices like walkers or canes.
—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
So says the pilot of Suits, a legal drama about Mike Ross, a college dropout who becomes a law associate under the mentorship of Harvey Specter, one of the top closers in New York City.
—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 June 2026
Verb
After dropping out of high school in 1922, Ed Link followed his father into the family business, learning how bellows and pneumatic pressure—the guts of organs—could be made to simulate movement.
—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
When things get dicey in Moscow, Vladimir Putin tends to drop out of sight for a while, retreating to one of his residences and canceling public events.
—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for dropout
Cite this Entry
“Dropout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dropout. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dropout
1 of 2 noun
drop·out
ˈdräp-ˌau̇t
: a person who drops out especially from a school or a training program
drop out
2 of 2 verb
: to withdraw from taking part or membership : quit
dropped out of school
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
