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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to dump
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
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6
as in to let
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in departure
the act of leaving a place
the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leave
Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
The agency advises drivers slow down, use their headlights and leave plenty of space between them and the car ahead.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Feb. 2026
Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Vicky Waters, a spokesperson for the Probation Department, confirmed a staff member was placed on administrative leave.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
Photos and video posted Saturday showed cars driving over a flyover joint that appears to have separated, leaving a gap in the roadway surface.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
The agency advises drivers slow down, use their headlights and leave plenty of space between them and the car ahead.
—Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
If left untreated, scale can cause yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and eventually death.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Vicky Waters, a spokesperson for the Probation Department, confirmed a staff member was placed on administrative leave.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
One is that OpenAI’s board has apparently abandoned its mission of safety.—
Alnoor Ebrahim,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The tech mogul, who helped found OpenAI, sued Altman and the company in 2024, accusing them of abandoning the firm’s founding values and manipulating him into investing in the ChatGPT maker.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Complicating matters further, Charles has bequeathed his school to his frenemy Magneto.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Given to Princess Mary as a wedding gift by the County of Lincoln, it was later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But that third period, the girls never quit.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Del Valle recently attended a choreographers conference in Europe and was surprised to learn that many of them had quit dancing.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dad hands me the paper, the certificate of ownership from the National Archives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
North Carolina regulators this week blocked Carolina Water Service from imposing a temporary rate increase, handing a short-term victory to thousands of homeowners already fighting a broader, long-term hike.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As most Chicagoans aware of the history of the civil rights movement know all too well, an all-white, all-male jury acquitted the two men of killing the Black teenager from Chicago and dumping his body in the river.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The mobsters turned the van around, pulled off the highway and dumped Gasso in a patch of poison ivy along the Connecticut River in Wethersfield.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Doug wouldn’t let his body get him down, although Lord knows his body tried.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This perfect beach vacation is ideal for those who need a mini-vacation.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In celebration of their one-year anniversary, Girard and Jung went on a European vacation to Germany and France in May 2025.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
According to a report from Axios, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter Friday to ByteDance, accusing the company of distributing and reproducing its intellectual property through the new AI tool without permission.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The legal action also seeks permission to appoint outside counsel selected by the Auditor’s Office to Special Assistant Attorney General (SAAG) to represent them – something Attorney General Andrea Campbell says DiZoglio does not have the authority to do.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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