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

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
The original White Plains Road location closed in 1995 when the 20-year lease expired. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 19 Mar. 2026 As a key element of its size reduction, the airline has been shrinking its fleet of Airbus jetliners, selling some but mostly ending lease agreements on others. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
The firm ranks among the top for leasing D-FW office space. Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026 In order to acquire a private utility, a municipality or other public entity must buy or lease the system’s infrastructure including polls, wires, and substations. John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • The demonstration of unity comes as Cuban leaders recently offered to allow exiles worldwide to invest in businesses and property on the island.
    Anna McAllister, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The property is on the top of a plateau with a fantastic view of the surrounding area.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The truck, Prager realized with a sick flash of terror, had been rented under his name.
    Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Matt Dymoke, the director of Development and Communications at ICA Food Shelf, says Bueckers' donation went a long way towards food and rent help.
    Marielle Mohs, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The city is hiring a consultant to evaluate the impact of removing the bike lanes and proposing potential replacements.
    Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • But New York is passing Silicon Valley for hiring volume, with the metro coming in second overall.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Not a passive one staring at a monitor in another state, but an active presence — someone who notices the unlocked window, who hears the footstep on the porch, who understands that an elder’s sudden confusion might signal a urinary tract infection.
    Neal K. Shah, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
  • This allows gas to pass through the GI tract without getting trapped and causing bloating.
    Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The project does not appear to have been filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation as of Thursday, but an affiliated project's TDLR filings offer more insights into the site development plans.
    Julianna Duennes Russ, Austin American Statesman, 21 Mar. 2026
  • At their Tuesday meeting, council will weigh the resolution accepting the petition's withdrawal, greenlighting the development of that annexation policy, and putting a stay on future annexation applications.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

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