Synonyms of leave

leave 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to abandon

to cause to remain behind

you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside

starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandon
• quit
• desert
• dump
• forsake
• strand
• forget
• ignore
• escape
• vacate
• discard
• relinquish
• ditch
• walk away from
• shed
• fling
• walk out on
• throw away
• scrap
• maroon
• reject
• throw out
• surrender
• deliver
• give up
• withdraw (from)
• cut off
• separate (from)
• renounce
• jettison
• retreat (from)
• sacrifice
• yield
• take off (from)
• hand over
• repudiate
• disregard
• junk
• disown
• neglect
• shuck (off)
• abjure
• distance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• have
• keep
• retain
• hold
• possess
• own
• withhold
• reserve
• reclaim
• save
• redeem
• harbor
• rescue

2

as in to bequeath

to give by means of a will

I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bequeath
• will
• pass (down)
• deed
• devise
• hand on
• hand down

3

as in to quit

to give up (a job or office)

he left his job in the city and moved out into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quit
• abandon
• give notice
• retire (from)
• vacate
• resign (from)
• chuck
• step down (from)
• bag
• step aside (from)
• throw up
• drop out (of)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stay (at)
• hire (out or on)

4

as in to hand

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hand
• give
• transfer
• deliver
• pass
• relinquish
• delegate
• recommend
• entrust
• transmit
• commend
• commit
• confide
• trust
• turn over
• grant
• lend
• submit
• hand over
• consign
• loan
• intrust
• vest
• will
• give over
• repose
• assign
• confer
• distribute
• divide
• bequeath
• dispense
• furnish
• deal (out)
• disperse
• surrender
• turn in
• supply
• yield
• release
• hand in
• recommit
• advance
• hand down
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• receive
• possess
• own
• accept
• take
• reserve
• occupy
• detain
• hold back
• take over
• take in

5

as in to dump

to end a usually intimate relationship with

is there ever a good way to leave a lover?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dump
• ditch
• abandon
• cut
• blow off
• break off (with)
• jilt
• kiss off
• kiss good-bye
• forsake
• desert
• slight
• snub
• brush (aside or off)
• cold-shoulder
• quit
• high-hat
• maroon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• hook up (with)
• befriend
• latch (on or onto)

6

as in to let

to give permission to

aw, leave him come

Synonyms & Similar Words

• let
• allow
• permit
• approve
• authorize
• empower
• license
• endorse
• indorse
• liberate
• sanction
• indulge
• commission
• free
• give in (to)
• licence
• cater (to)
• release
• humor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• discourage
• deter
• prevent
• block
• impede
• bar
• inhibit
• curb
• hold back
• obstruct
• constrain
• frustrate

leave

2 of 2

noun

1

as in vacation

a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended

the soldier was on leave for three days before having to report back to base

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vacation
• holiday
• break
• rest
• recess
• hols
• sabbatical
• furlough
• liberty
• relaxation
• breather
• respite
• interim
• legal holiday
• intermission
• interval
• idling
• feast
• loafing
• holy day
• lounging
• slacking

2

as in permission

the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something

the editor gave the reporters leave to follow up on their initial investigation of the senator's fund-raising practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• permission
• authorization
• consent
• granting
• sanction
• allowance
• warrant
• signature
• clearance
• permit
• license
• green light
• licence
• accreditation
• seal
• concurrence
• sufferance
• pass
• stamp
• liberty
• certification
• grant
• okay
• acceptance
• assent
• agreement
• patent
• tolerance
• concession
• imprimatur
• acquiescence
• toleration
• OK
• accord

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusal
• denial
• prohibition
• rejection
• revocation
• injunction
• veto
• exclusion
• suppression
• proscription
• interdiction
• repression
• ban
• deterrence
• taboo
• tabu
• embargo
• discouragement

3

as in departure

the act of leaving a place

the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• departure
• going
• departing
• exiting
• evacuation
• exodus
• exit
• flight
• parting
• withdrawal
• quitting
• farewell
• decamping
• retirement
• leave-taking
• walking out
• retreat
• decampment
• lighting out
• emigration
• outgo
• abandonment
• embarkation
• diaspora
• disembarkation
• forsaking
• running away
• egress
• relinquishment
• embarkment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrival
• appearance
• coming
• approach
• advent
• entrance
• ingress

Phrases Containing leave

• leave off