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
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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
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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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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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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leave
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
After police declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order, several people who refused to leave were arrested, authorities said.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Healthy leaves indicate that the plant's essential systems are functioning properly, such as nutrient transport, water absorption, and photosynthesis.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
Then as during the latest shutoffs, people complained that Xcel didn’t keep the public updated, leaving them in the dark as to how long the electricity would be off.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
After police declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order, several people who refused to leave were arrested, authorities said.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Place it in a sunny spot, watering only when the soil is dry to the touch, until the leaves have yellowed.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Healthy leaves indicate that the plant's essential systems are functioning properly, such as nutrient transport, water absorption, and photosynthesis.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
Japan embarked on the path to policy normalization in March 2024, abandoning the world's last negative interest rate regime, and has stressed on raising rates subject to a virtuous cycle of growth in wages and prices.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The cards were left in several cars abandoned after their occupants were arrested by ICE agents earlier this week in Eagle County, during what Sánchez described as fake traffic stops.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Leon's children filed a civil lawsuit in the Clark County Circuit Court in 2024 claiming that Jamey took money that was bequeathed to them after their father's death in 2018.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hechtman, who quit drinking in 2021 after participating in Dry January, a challenge to abstain from alcohol for 31 days, said her social life has flourished since then.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Eskander had been part of the original canon committee, but quit a year into the work.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pedro said the city would serve as landlord for the time being but could eventually hand the duties off in the future.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Senior generals, including Min Aung Hlaing, said at the time that new elections would be held and power handed to the winning party.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pittsburgh is preparing for a significant winter storm that's expected to dump inches of snow across the area this weekend.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Primaloft Black Eco insulation kept me toasty on 15-degree lift rides at Bolton Valley Ski Resort, while extra-long flank zips are great for dumping heat on the way down.—
Benjamin Tepler,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Roger always just let people in.—
Patrick McEnroe,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Choose one issue each week that others may have let linger and take ownership of bringing it to resolution.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The days of mapping out a European vacation a year in advance are over.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But their two-day vacation was unexpectedly extended as a major winter storm rolled in, bringing heavy sleet and snow to their home state of Texas on Friday, Jan 23.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Used with the permission of the publisher, Viking.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production involving Sydney Sweeney as reported by TMZ, nor did anyone seek a license or permission from the Chamber for that production.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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