1
a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
her left leg
b
: done with the left hand
a left hook to the jaw
c
: located nearer to the left hand than to the right
a man's left chest
d(1)
: located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified
stage left
the left arm of a chair
(2)
: located on the left when facing downstream
the left bank of a river
2
often capitalized
: of, adhering to, or constituted by the left especially in politics
this left government with a cabinet of moderate liberals—
F. A. Magruder
F. A. Magruder
left
adverb
1
a
: the left hand
b
: the location or direction of the left side
c
: the part on the left side
d
: a turn to the left
take a left at the intersection
2
a
b
: a blow struck with the left fist
3
often capitalized
a
: the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer
b
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members
4
often capitalized
a
: those professing views usually characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order especially in politics and usually advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man
b
: a radical as distinguished from a conservative position
left
3 of 3past tense and past participle of leave
Synonyms
Examples of left in a Sentence
Adjective
He felt a pain in his left side.
He hit him with a left hook to the jaw.
the left side of the street
Noun
We read from left to right.
You'll take two lefts and then a right.
He hit him with two quick lefts to the stomach followed by a right to the jaw.
Recent Examples on the WebSam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Started 34 games at left tackle past three seasons at Duke and also could adapt to guard, so the versatility to play all five OL spots is a plus.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Morgan wrenched her left foot attempting a shot as goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse trapped the ball with her leg.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Without shifting your hips, lift your left knee out to the side.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Streaks of silver run through his otherwise black hair, and the diamond stud in his left ear appears real.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Then, Reinhart used a screen from Vladimir Tarasenko to score on the open left side of the net.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The Kings are listing Keegan Murray as questionable due to left calf soreness.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
The damage on her left retina, the area at the back of the eye where the brain receives images, looked like the shape of a partial eclipse.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road.
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Instead, the Doctor was apparently found as a mysterious orphan from an unknown planet, much as Ruby was discovered as a newborn left abandoned on a church doorstep.
—EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Miami music memories Chern is almost dwarfed by a stack of new arrivals on LPs and 45s in protective clear plastic sleeves to his left on the counter.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
But that approach alone will not do enough to satisfy the lawmakers to Tusk’s left, and the voters who expect a more drastic overhaul.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Abby is in control of their right arm and leg, and Brittany is in control of their left.
—Chris Barilla, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
This combination of photos shows, from top left, former Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
With a boulevard in place, separating the different directions of traffic, drivers would have to make their left turns in an indirect way, using crossovers and for large truck traffic, loons.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Alt could move from left tackle in college to right tackle in the pros.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
Started 34 games at left tackle past three seasons at Duke and also could adapt to guard, so the versatility to play all five OL spots is a plus.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024
Morgan wrenched her left foot attempting a shot as goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse trapped the ball with her leg.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
Without shifting your hips, lift your left knee out to the side.
—Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Streaks of silver run through his otherwise black hair, and the diamond stud in his left ear appears real.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
Then, Reinhart used a screen from Vladimir Tarasenko to score on the open left side of the net.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The Kings are listing Keegan Murray as questionable due to left calf soreness.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 11 Apr. 2024
The damage on her left retina, the area at the back of the eye where the brain receives images, looked like the shape of a partial eclipse.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 31 Mar. 2024
Noun
In public statements, Musk has charted a recent, sharp political turn from left to right.
—Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road.
—Michael Charboneau, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Instead, the Doctor was apparently found as a mysterious orphan from an unknown planet, much as Ruby was discovered as a newborn left abandoned on a church doorstep.
—EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Miami music memories Chern is almost dwarfed by a stack of new arrivals on LPs and 45s in protective clear plastic sleeves to his left on the counter.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
But that approach alone will not do enough to satisfy the lawmakers to Tusk’s left, and the voters who expect a more drastic overhaul.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Abby is in control of their right arm and leg, and Brittany is in control of their left.
—Chris Barilla, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
This combination of photos shows, from top left, former Rankin County sheriff's deputies Hunter Elward, Christian Dedmon, Brett McAlpin, Jeffrey Middleton, Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024
With a boulevard in place, separating the different directions of traffic, drivers would have to make their left turns in an indirect way, using crossovers and for large truck traffic, loons.
—Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 13 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'left.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near left
Cite this Entry
“Left.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/left. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
left
1 of 3 adjective1
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
the left leg
2
: located nearer to the left side of the body than to the right
the left arm of a chair
left
adverb
left
2 of 3 noun1
: the left side or the part on the left side
2
: the members of a European legislative body sitting to the left of the presiding officer and holding more radical views than other members
3
capitalized
: political liberals or radicals
also
: their beliefs
left
3 of 3past and past participle of leave
Medical Definition
left
adjective
: of, relating to, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
also
: located nearer to this side than to the right
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