leave

1 of 3

verb (1)

left ˈleft How to pronounce leave (audio) ; leaving

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: bequeath, devise
left a fortune to his son
(2)
: to have remaining after one's death
leaves a widow and two children
b
: to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect
oil leaves a stain
the wound left an ugly scar
2
a
: to cause or allow to be or remain in a specified condition
leave the door open
his manner left me cold
b
: to fail to include or take along
left the notes at home
the movie leaves a lot out
c
: to have as a remainder
4 from 7 leaves 3
d
: to permit to be or remain subject to another's action or control
just leave everything to me
e
: let
f
: to cause or allow to be or remain available
leave room for expansion
left myself an out
3
a
: to go away from : depart
leave the room
b
: desert, abandon
left his wife
c
: to terminate association with : withdraw from
left school before graduation
4
: to put, deposit, or deliver before or in the process of departing
I left a package for you
leave a message

intransitive verb

: set out, depart
left for the office at eight sharp
leaver noun
Leave vs. Let: Usage Guide

Leave (sense 2e) with the infinitive but without to

leave it be

is a mostly spoken idiom used in writing especially for humorous effect. It is not often criticized in British English, but American commentators, adhering to an opinion first expressed in 1881, still dislike it.

leave

2 of 3

noun

1
a
: permission to do something
b
: authorized especially extended absence from duty or employment
2
: an act of leaving : departure

leave

3 of 3

verb (2)

leaved; leaving
Phrases
leave alone
: to refrain from bothering, disturbing, or using
Leave him alone while he's doing his homework.

Examples of leave in a Sentence

Noun He took an unpaid leave from work. The soldiers were given a two-month leave for the holidays. He took a few months' leave to care for his sick mother. Our professor is on leave this semester. She is on leave from her law firm. a soldier on military leave I beg leave to differ with you, sir. He was found guilty but was granted leave to appeal against the verdict.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
TikTok users jumped to the comments to share how the reunion left them feeling. Paloma Chavez, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Three years of strict pandemic controls, which ended at the beginning of 2023, and a real estate crash have drained local government coffers, leaving authorities across the country struggling with mountains of debt. Laura He, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 On the quest, Po is forced to leave his comfort zone of the Valley and venture out into Juniper City, a place bustling with action, plenty of food and new characters. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 James Crumbley left the counselor's office that day and made DoorDash deliveries — all of them in Oxford, Wagrowski testified. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 In 1971, Alex Cooper died, leaving his son to run the business. Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024 Together, those initiatives are projected to leave Maryland with a roughly $3.4 billion shortfall three years from now, legislative analysts calculated. Erin Cox, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The coupé looked great, but its powertrain left something to be desired and so, two years later, a more powerful version, called the 246 GT, was released. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Council members passed the measure in a 9-4 vote despite Mayor Jacob Frey’s promise to veto the measure due to concerns that the ride-hailing companies could leave Minneapolis and even stop operating throughout Minnesota. Trisha Ahmed, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Natural medicines, such as gingko and coca leaves, are touted as natural altitude sickness treatments, but few studies have been done on them. Brian Strickland, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2024 These include how much fine fuels — grasses, twigs, needles and leaves — are on the landscape. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Three deputies who opened fire have been placed on administrative leave as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates the police shooting. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Current federal law offers job protections for many Americans, for up to 12 weeks, but the leave is unpaid and excludes many lower-income workers. Cory Turner, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 Over time leaves gracefully cascade down with bright red flowers emerging from dark maroon calyxes. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Ford started working as a bus driver for the Granite School District in 1998, until he was put on leave in April and fired on June 5, district spokeswoman Andrea Stringham told McClatchy News on March 4. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 At San Jose State University, a Jewish studies professor was placed on leave last month after placing a hand on a pro-Palestinian student during a confrontation over a guest speaker. Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Hu-DeHart was on leave at the time, but Rodriguez saw her hand in it. Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan; akin to Old High German verleiben to leave, Old English belīfan to be left over, and perhaps to Lithuanian lipti to adhere, Greek lipos grease, fat

Noun

Middle English leve, from Old English lēaf; akin to Middle High German loube permission, Old English alȳfan to allow — more at believe

Verb (2)

Middle English leven, from leef leaf

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leave was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leave. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

leave

1 of 3 verb
left ˈleft How to pronounce leave (audio) ; leaving
1
a
: to give by will : bequeath
left a fortune to his daughter
b
: to have remaining after one's death
leaves a widow and two children
c
: to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect
oil leaves a stain
also : to cause to remain behind
leave your money at home
2
a
: to cause or allow to be or remain in a specified condition
leave the door open
b
: to fail to include or take along
left my notes at home
the movie leaves a lot out
c
: to have as a remainder
taking 4 from 7 leaves 3
d
: to permit to be or remain subject to another's action or control
just leave everything to me
f
: to cause or allow to be or remain available
leave room for more
3
a
: to go away from : depart
leave the room
b
: desert sense 2
left his wife
c
: to terminate association with : withdraw from
left school before graduation
4
: to put, deposit, or deliver especially before or in the process of departing
left a package on your doorstep

leave

2 of 3 noun
1
b
: authorized absence from duty or employment
2
: an act of leaving

leave

3 of 3 verb
leaved; leaving
Etymology

Verb

Old English lǣfan "to give to one's heirs"

Noun

Old English lēaf "permission"

Verb

Middle English leven "to produce leaves," from leef "a leaf"

Legal Definition

leave

transitive verb
left; leaving

More from Merriam-Webster on leave

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