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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to let
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leave
Erdozain writes with a poet’s concision but a maximalist’s zeal, leaving no room in his historical account for any doubt that American exceptionalism has been a singularly detrimental force.
—
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
Making matters worse, her single dad (Sisto) leaves her home alone most nights, drowning his sorrows at the local watering hole.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 June 2026
The series opens as City’s record-breaking run of 26 games unbeaten comes to a shuddering halt, with a string of defeats in late 2024 leaving Guardiola visibly shaken.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 June 2026
After a quick tour of the property and your pavilion, the young, slightly self-conscious staff leave you in blissful peace.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
Making matters worse, her single dad (Sisto) leaves her home alone most nights, drowning his sorrows at the local watering hole.
—Marlow Stern, Variety, 8 June 2026
The series opens as City’s record-breaking run of 26 games unbeaten comes to a shuddering halt, with a string of defeats in late 2024 leaving Guardiola visibly shaken.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 June 2026
After a quick tour of the property and your pavilion, the young, slightly self-conscious staff leave you in blissful peace.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
Kuna fires out, abandoned home burns Smoke poured out of two fires in Kuna on Thursday, said James Trumble, the Kuna Rural Fire District’s assistant chief.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
-
And then there’s the fact that in the season finale’s final minutes, set in 2020, the Soviet spaceship MAPC-94, abandoned in space after its engines failed decades ago, turns itself on.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The pooches were bequeathed to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson when Britain's longest-reigning monarch died in 2022.—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
7 June 2026
-
To mark the occasion, Heritage Auctions is auctioning 101 lots online containing personal items that belonged to Norman and Hedda Rosten, two close friends of Monroe for the last seven years of her life, bequeathed to them over the course of their friendship.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The Forest Service has denied that the pending closures are intended to force workers to quit and has suggested that employees in the facilities being evaluated for shut down would be consolidated into one location in Colorado.—
Chiara Eisner,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
Such events quit being for the common fan a while ago.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Tovar ambushed Kilian’s first offering, pulling a two-run homer over the left-field fence to hand the Giants their fourth straight loss.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
30 May 2026
-
If the 5 in 5 rule means the clock is ticking on their college eligibility as soon as they’re handed a high school diploma, more Minnesota kids are likely to leave the prep ranks early.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
If an Islander isn’t chosen, this often means that they have been dumped from the island.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
-
Watch parties became a go-to event for fans to observe their favorite contestants, make up, break up or get dumped from the island.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The image of James’s paper lantern, let go and floating up into the night sky like a second moon, augurs his eventual fleeing from his family.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Lebanon’s economy began to collapse in 2019, causing salaries to plummet; many enlistees were forced to take second jobs, and others to desert altogether.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
-
In the last decade, young audiences coveted by advertisers have deserted late night TV shows for streaming channels.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The Washington Nationals used Richard Lovelady, who blew Monday’s series opener, as an opener, followed by veteran Miles Mikolas for a bulk appearance, their most promising combination given their roster construction and arms available.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
3 June 2026
-
Further, current macroeconomic risks would call for more hedging, given that consumer sentiment may be pressured in the coming months by persistently higher oil prices, while decline in the savings rate could signal another sign of fragility, Murphy said.—
Justina Lee,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
