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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Varying injuries suffered by Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck leave several starters in flux entering the offseason, while rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle pitched well at the end of the season.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
This way, when any potential thieves show up, the crunch of the leaves under sneaky paws will alert the woodrats.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
In analyzing dozens of hours of audio and video footage of public and private speaking events for McMahon’s appointees, as well as their writings, ProPublica found that a recurring theme is the desire to enable more families to leave public schools.
—Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Varying injuries suffered by Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck leave several starters in flux entering the offseason, while rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle pitched well at the end of the season.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Noun
Signs Its Time To Divide Perennials When flowers are smaller than normal, the plant develops a bald spot in the center of the crown, and bottom leaves are sparse, the plant probably needs to be divided.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
This way, when any potential thieves show up, the crunch of the leaves under sneaky paws will alert the woodrats.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
As well as finding comfort on arrival, Smith is determined that those who move on do not feel abandoned.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The novel can get busy—Taylor introduces each of Wyeth’s studio mates in the first chapter, then all but abandons half of them to squeeze in more significant characters—but there’s a warmth in the overcrowding.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But following outcry from U.S. bishops, public backlash, and even a meandering demur from Pope Leo XIV, the award is no longer being bequeathed.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Oct. 2025
-
There are also wooden pews made for the school’s Bond Chapel and 72,000 glass slides from the art-history department, all of which were bequeathed to Gates over the years.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Staff at The Free Press are eager to start working with CBS News; reporter Olivia Reingold appeared on CBS News Friday morning to discuss her report that anonymous NYPD officers had been threatening to quit the force if Zohran Mamdani is elected New York City mayor.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Apparently, many workers crash out and quit on the third Wednesday at the job.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And while handing Ole Miss its first loss of the year was reason to celebrate, things got pretty somber rather quickly for the Bulldogs after learning the injury status of one of their top playmakers.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
There are Reddit groups dedicated to the hobby of collecting new and vintage matchbooks, and even a website called Matchbooktraveler that catalogs restaurants in the United States that hand them out.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With exactly 11 minutes remaining, Walker dumped a screen pass off to O’Brien.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In some cases, a major winter storm will dump heavy snow in northern areas, while the South contends with a springlike severe storm threat from the same system.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Simons didn’t let a lack of minutes early in his career ruin his spirit.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Isan Elba Isan Elba let her hair down on the pink carpet.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Custom Viewfinder Reel Plus RetroViewer Load up this viewfinder with photos from your best moments together—vacations, date nights, that hilarious selfie from the concert—and gift her a hit of nostalgia with every click.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Glamour,
13 Oct. 2025
-
His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The General Assembly has given Mecklenburg County permission to put a referendum on the ballot to raise the county’s sales tax to fund road, rail and bus projects.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Run with permission of the author, courtesy of Bloomsbury Continuum, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share