leaves; left
ˈlɛft 
; leaving
; leaving
1
a
: to go away from (a place)
What time will you leave the office?
Don't leave home without your wallet.
I left the party at seven o'clock.
We will leave at 10 o'clock.
Are we leaving soon?
She left quickly.
They left by bus.
The train left an hour ago but another will be arriving soon.
—often + forWe're leaving for the game in an hour.
The train left from Paris for Barcelona an hour ago.
b
: to go away from (a place) to live in a different place
They left the country for a new life in the city.
He left town a month ago.
He left home [=left his parent's house and lived somewhere else] after graduating from high school.
2
a
: to go away from (a person)
She left her friends and went home.
We left him so that he could do his work. = We left him to his work. = He had work to do, so we left him to it.
We left him doing his work. [=he was doing his work when we left him]
b
: to stop living with and having a close personal relationship with (someone)
His mother left [=abandoned, deserted] him when he was very young.
He left his wife and children.
His wife left him for another man.
He hasn't been the same since his wife left.
3
a
: to give up or stop having (a job, position, etc.)
He left [=quit] his job and went back to school.
a politician who will be leaving office next year
b
: to stop attending, belonging to, or working for (a school, a group, an organization, etc.)
She left school and got a job.
She left our team and joined another one.
He has one more year before he leaves the army.
He's going to be leaving the company soon and starting his own business.
You must give the company two weeks' notice before leaving.
c
: to stop participating in (something, such as a game)
The starting quarterback had to leave the game because of an injury.
When did she leave the meeting?
4
a
: to go away and allow or cause (something or someone) to remain
Please leave your books at home.
You may leave your things in this room.
: to put or bring (something or someone) somewhere and go away
I left the groceries on the table.
Please leave the package by the door.
We left a turkey (roasting) in the oven.
I left my brother at the airport.
They left their dog in the car.
b
Note: If you leave someone or something with someone, you allow someone to keep and care for someone or something while you are away.
c
: to go away and forget or neglect to take (something)
He left [=forgot] his wallet at the restaurant.
I left my homework in my car.
Did you leave your key in the door again?
d
: to go away permanently without taking (something or someone)
He left nothing in his old apartment.
—often + behindThey left behind everything they owned.
We had to leave our family and friends behind.
He left it all behind. [=took nothing with him]
I wanted to leave the past behind. [=forget about the past]
5
: to put (something) in a place for another person to take or have
Did she leave a package for me?
We left a good tip for our waitress. = We left our waitress a good tip.
I left a message (for you) on your answering machine.
He left his name and phone number.
6
a
: to allow someone else to deal with or do (something)
—often + with
"It's a pretty complicated problem." "Leave it with me: I'll see what I can do."
—often + forYou don't have to wash the dishes. Just leave them for me. [=I will wash the dishes]
—often + toLeave your computer problems to the experts. [=let the experts solve your computer problems]
That kind of decision should be left to the parents.
They left the decision (up) to me.
She left it to the readers to decide the story's ending.
I'll leave it (up) to you (to decide) whether or not we go to the movies.
I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions.
—sometimes used figurativelyWhether or not we have a picnic will be left (up) to the weather. [=will be determined by the weather]
b
Note: In informal U.S. English, you can say leave it to someone (to do something), when someone has acted in a way that is typical or expected.
c
Note: If people leave you to do something, they do not help you do it.
7
: to cause (something or someone) to be or remain in a specified condition or position
Years of pollution has left [=made] the water undrinkable.
Their argument left him angry and confused.
The accident left him paralyzed.
Your kind words leave me speechless.
I'll leave the door unlocked for you.
She left the door/window open.
Did you leave the lights on?
Much was left undone.
Let's just leave it at that. [=let's not change it or discuss it further]
—often + -ing verbThey cut down the trees but left the rosebushes standing.
It left them wondering when it would all end.
—often + withI don't want to punish you, but your actions leave me (with) no/little choice. [=your actions make it necessary for me to punish you]
They were left with no option but to sell their car. [=they were forced to sell their car]
8
a
: to allow (something) to remain available or unused
He wanted to leave a way out for himself. = He wanted to leave himself a way out.
Please leave space/room for another chair.
Don't eat too much. You need to leave room for dessert. [=you need to leave enough room in your stomach so that you can eat dessert]
That doesn't leave much room for discussion.
b
Note: An amount that is left (over) or that you have left (over) is an amount that remains after the rest has been used or taken away.
9
: to cause (something) to remain as a result, mark, or sign
The cut left an ugly scar.
The grape juice left a stain on the carpet.
The rain is leaving a thin layer of ice on the roads.
The thief was careful not to leave any clues.
We promise we won't leave a mess.
His visit left a lasting impression on our family.
The experience left a bad taste in my mouth. [=the experience made me feel bad or disgusted]
10
a
: to have (family members) living after your death
He left (behind) a widow and two children.
She leaves (behind) 7 children and 28 grandchildren.
b
: to give (something, such as money or property) to (someone) after your death
She left a fortune to her husband.
His parents left him a house and a small amount of money.
11
mathematics
: to have (a number) as a remainder
Taking 7 from 10 leaves 3.
1
: a period of time when someone has special permission to be away from a job or from military service
He took an unpaid leave from work.
The soldiers were given a two-month leave for the holidays.
12 weeks of leave
He took a few months' leave to care for his sick mother.
The company granted her maternity leave. [=time off to take care of a newborn child]
Our professor is on leave this semester.
She is on leave from her law firm.
a soldier on military leave
called also leave of absence
2
formal
: permission to do something
I beg leave to differ with you, sir.
He was found guilty but was granted/given leave to appeal against the verdict.
The soldier was guilty of being absent without (official) leave.
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/leave. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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