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
The Gardens at Unity Village launched in 2009 when a group of around 30 people finalized a lease with Unity and chartered the 501c(3) charity. Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 The athletes in the class just graduated college and some might have started a job or plan to attend new student orientation for law school or grad school in a week or two and maybe sign a lease for an apartment. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Sony Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema are leasing the long-empty theater and plan to reopen it in 2028. Joel Mathis, TheWeek, 6 Aug. 2026 One Boise-area climbing gym was preparing to shut its doors this year after leasing disagreements and difficulty finding a new location left it with no other choice. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • Kash explains that turmeric contains a specific type of polyphenol called curcumin, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties (and is what gives the spice its bright yellow color).
    Marie Bladt, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The advisors counter that the online reviewers, who typically stay one night in a hotel, offer only a snapshot of what the property is like, despite the lengthy videos.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Across the street, grab a poke bowl with a view at Tropicali, or rent a kayak to explore the lake.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For example, letting a distant family member stay at a second home without formal documentation, or if someone owns one or more properties and rents them out, but the tenants don’t have documentation that the unit is their primary residence.
    Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The group hired Chrissi Rawak, the former athletics director at Delaware, as its new CEO in February 2025.
    Matt Moret, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Bruins announced the hiring Monday of the 35-year-old Carr, who is volunteering in his first major coaching role.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Salmonella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tract, and it people are most often infected by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
    Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • But there isn’t yet much evidence to suggest that governors are strategically pursuing their own overarching vision in their selection of tracts, Fikri said.
    Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That came in 2014-15, in a year where the richest opportunistically pilfered a couple of less wealthy clubs who had shown themselves highly adept at scouting and youth development.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • After years of slow progress, a new development in in a Colorado town is finally close to getting the green light.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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