lease 1 of 2

Definition of leasenext

lease

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rent
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the landlord was willing to lease the apartment for less than we had expected

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum I couldn't afford to buy a car outright, so I decided to lease one instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lease different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lease are charter, hire, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When would charter be a good substitute for lease?

In some situations, the words charter and lease are roughly equivalent. However, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of lease?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can rent take the place of lease?

Although the words rent and lease have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of lease
Noun
Similarly to what happens in those two Asian nations ruled by communist governments, the Cuban government will expand the lease of farmland, but the state will continue owning the land. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Spalding contends that the container manufacturers sold equipment at inflated prices to leasing companies, ocean carriers and logistics providers, which then incorporated those costs into lease rates, freight charges and transportation fees. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
Verb
Today, two families earning 30% or less of Boise’s area median income — $33,200 for a family of four — lease the homes behind the church. Mark Dee june 19, Idaho Statesman, 19 June 2026 In practice, however, parts of Bananal Island were leased for decades. ABC News, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • Earlier this month in state Superior Court, a special servicer representing Fallas’ lender asked for a judicial foreclosure of the property, alleging that Fallas had stopped making payments on a $32 million loan dating to 2017.
    Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • Foreclosure proceedings began in August 2025, and the property was later approved for a public auction, NBC Connecticut reported.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Guests can also rent Freedom Flyer cruiser bikes to pedal around the property and to nearby shops like Brewster Book Store, The Brewster Store, and Pelo Mar boutique.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • For Mosta, the bet is that owning the dollar moving through the system beats renting someone else's.
    Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Unfortunately, Daemon’s hired assassins killed Aegon’s young son Jaehaerys instead so any real possibility for a family reconciliation was lost.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
  • The firm says inflation, oil prices and cautious hiring are likely to lead to even fewer jobs this year, resulting in the lowest summer hiring total for teens since the federal government began tracking it in 1948.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The filing seeks to halt the project, which is already underway on a tract connected to the National Mall, as statues are commissioned and funding is secured.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 16 June 2026
  • Costco and the owners of four large tracts in Plainfield sued, saying commissioners ignored evidence at hearings.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • The measures would open sectors such as banking, energy, and real estate development to private capital and foreign companies.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 20 June 2026
  • The Union’s move is a small reversal of a decades-long trend away from scholastic sports as a soccer development tool.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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