leave

leave

verb

Definition of LEAVE

1

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 abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit, strand

Related Words discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out; deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield; escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from); abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from); sacrifice; distance; disregard, forget, ignore, neglect

Phrases walk away from, walk out on

Near Antonyms harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold; redeem, rescue, save

Antonyms reclaim

2

to give by means of a will <I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children>

Synonyms bequeath, will

Related Words deed; hand down, hand on, pass (down); devise

3

to give up (a job or office) <he left his job in the city and moved out into the country>

Synonyms bag, chuck, leave, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from)

Related Words abandon, vacate; drop out (of), throw up

Near Antonyms hire (out or on)

Antonyms stay (at)

4

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another <why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?>

Synonyms commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust (also intrust), give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest

Related Words confer, grant; assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide; hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield; bequeath, hand down, hand on, will; advance, lend, loan; furnish, supply; recommit, redeliver, regive, retransfer, retransmit

Near Antonyms detain, hold back, reserve, withhold; own, possess; accept, receive, take in; occupy, take, take over

Antonyms hold, keep, retain

5

to end a usually intimate relationship with <is there ever a good way to leave a lover?>

Synonyms blow off, break off (with), dump, jilt, kiss off, leave

Related Words brush (aside or off), cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub; abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit

Near Antonyms hook up (with), take; befriend, latch (on or onto)

6

to give permission to <aw, leave him come>

Synonyms leave, let, permit

Related Words authorize, commission, empower, license (also licence); approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; free, liberate, release; cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge

Near Antonyms deter, discourage; bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

Antonyms enjoin, forbid, prohibit