quitar

Senses

1. 1.

   to remove, to take off

   to take something away from a place or a person

2. 2.

   to take away, to deprive

   to remove someone's possession or right

3. 3.

   to stop, to cease

   to end an action or state

4. 4.

   to get rid of, to eliminate

   to remove or dispose of something unwanted

Examples

• "Me quité los zapatos cuando llegué a casa."

  I took off my shoes when I got home.

• "No puedo quitar esta mancha de la ropa."

  I can't remove this stain from the clothes.

• "Quita el teléfono de la mesa, por favor."

  Take the phone off the table, please.

Usage

One of the most common Spanish verbs. *Quitar* is transitive and often reflexive (*quitarse*) when referring to removing something from oneself (clothes, accessories). In some regions, *quitar* can also mean "to steal" or "to obstruct." Note the difference: *quitar* (remove from somewhere) vs. *sacar* (pull out, extract).