left
ˈleft 
; leaving
; leaving
1
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
4
: to put, deposit, or deliver before or in the process of departing
I left a package for you
leave a message
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.
Synonyms
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
Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
The ozone layer is anemic from years of abuse, leaving little protection from UV rays.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office has never been decided by the Supreme Court.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Buy Now: $90 Bergström 2022 Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Oregon
John Bergström left Sweden and emigrated to Portland, Oregon to pursue a medical education and met his wife Karen there.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
But that was before the March index report, released earlier this month, revealed a third-straight uptick in price gains, leaving inflation at 3.5%.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Anglo has faced a series of major setbacks over the past year as prices for some of its key products plunged, while operational difficulties have forced the company to slash its production targets — driving down its valuation and leaving the company vulnerable to potential bidders.
—Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune Asia, 25 Apr. 2024
Their mother has to leave town and care for her sister, so Luke turns to his brothers for help.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
Beyond the state government and education establishment, Madison has become a magnet for white collar occupations and a hard place for many recent UW graduates to leave.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Bay City News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
For the best results, choose flowers and leaves that can lay relatively flat on paper.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
With its green leaves and white flowers, hoteliers in Margarita began years ago to plant it as landscaping.
—Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Lander has been on leave from the Riggs Elementary principal position since at least mid-February.
—The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
Federal investments in paid leave, childcare, and aging and disability care would benefit all of us.
—Dawn Huckelbridge, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
They have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
—Charles Rabin and, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
The projects included raking leaves around campus, weeding and planting flowers, laying a walkway and planting a tree in Wiley's honor.
—Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The search for a new superintendent began after the Bald Knob School Board placed Melissa Gipson, the previous superintendent, on leave in October.
—Danny Shameer, arkansasonline.com, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
To begin with, Redd, 24, brought up MGK's offer to hand over $1 million ($500,000 in cash and the same amount as a donation to their high schools Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights) if his friend Kelce, 34, left the Kansas City Chiefs and joined the Cleveland Browns.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
The ozone layer is anemic from years of abuse, leaving little protection from UV rays.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office has never been decided by the Supreme Court.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Buy Now: $90 Bergström 2022 Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Oregon
John Bergström left Sweden and emigrated to Portland, Oregon to pursue a medical education and met his wife Karen there.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
But that was before the March index report, released earlier this month, revealed a third-straight uptick in price gains, leaving inflation at 3.5%.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Anglo has faced a series of major setbacks over the past year as prices for some of its key products plunged, while operational difficulties have forced the company to slash its production targets — driving down its valuation and leaving the company vulnerable to potential bidders.
—Thomas Biesheuvel, Fortune Asia, 25 Apr. 2024
Their mother has to leave town and care for her sister, so Luke turns to his brothers for help.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2024
Beyond the state government and education establishment, Madison has become a magnet for white collar occupations and a hard place for many recent UW graduates to leave.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Stockton police said the officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave, as is standard policy.
—Bay City News Service, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
For the best results, choose flowers and leaves that can lay relatively flat on paper.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
With its green leaves and white flowers, hoteliers in Margarita began years ago to plant it as landscaping.
—Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Lander has been on leave from the Riggs Elementary principal position since at least mid-February.
—The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
Federal investments in paid leave, childcare, and aging and disability care would benefit all of us.
—Dawn Huckelbridge, Glamour, 9 Apr. 2024
They have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
—Charles Rabin and, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024
The projects included raking leaves around campus, weeding and planting flowers, laying a walkway and planting a tree in Wiley's honor.
—Jade Thomas, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Apr. 2024
The search for a new superintendent began after the Bald Knob School Board placed Melissa Gipson, the previous superintendent, on leave in October.
—Danny Shameer, arkansasonline.com, 2 Apr. 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.
Articles Related to leave
Dictionary Entries Near leave
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leave. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leave
1 of 3 verb
left
ˈleft
; leaving
; 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 noun1
b
: authorized absence from duty or employment
2
: an act of 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"
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