lease 1 of 2

Definition of leasenext

lease

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rent
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the landlord was willing to lease the apartment for less than we had expected

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum I couldn't afford to buy a car outright, so I decided to lease one instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lease different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lease are charter, hire, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When would charter be a good substitute for lease?

In some situations, the words charter and lease are roughly equivalent. However, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of lease?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can rent take the place of lease?

Although the words rent and lease have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

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 lease
Noun
However, in 1976, some of the early founders persuaded the city to make the site available for lease as a soccer field. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2026 The facility, The Vero at Chesapeake, charged Twiddy a one-time $6,825 move-in fee and monthly charges of $7,475, according to the lease. Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
Verb
In 1776, the Continental Congress leased private land along Philadelphia’s Front Street docks to build and outfit warships for the American Revolution. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 July 2026 Prakash Singh | Bloomberg | Getty Images Anthropic is in very preliminary talks to lease artificial intelligence computing power from Meta, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC’s Kate Rooney. Kif Leswing, CNBC, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • In a letter obtained by TMZ, Hostin argued her son mistakenly entered the property while jogging after spotting what appeared to be a gravel incline suitable for hill training.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • For now, however, the national and global demand for Miami luxury properties remains high, the UBS report noted, with prices still below New York and Los Angeles.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • And even with funds, many landlords don’t want to rent to those with criminal convictions.
    Amber Gaudet July 18, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Göransson rented 35 bronze gongs of varying sizes and experimented with them.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • So, when Thursday’s term sheet was sent to the Blazers, the team was put off by asks from the city, particularly the $3 million annual fee for a property tax offset and a requirement that the team hires union workers.
    Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • That means other captains looking to hire Luke will see the incident on his record.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • New research is drawing sharper links between dementia risk and where people live, from segregated census tracts to entire regions of the country.
    Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
  • Cyclospora outbreak spans dozens of states Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestinal tract and can cause prolonged diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Artists displayed photos of original Miami spots and newer city developments crossing over into local areas, like Waymos and tourist traps.
    Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • But despite growing international demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumption remains a critical weak spot in the nation’s economic development.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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