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 Rocklin Crossings location spans 523,161 square feet and is across Sierra College Boulevard and Interstate 80, according to the lease documents. Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2026 Meanwhile, lease challenges at the Boise brewery sent Clairvoyant reeling. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2026
Verb
An affordable housing development for seniors in San Jose took a significant step forward following a real estate deal to lease the land where the apartments would be built. George Avalos, Mercury News, 29 May 2026 The marina property, which includes a beach, boat slips, a bait shop, a crappie house and the bar, Tavern on the Lake, is owned by the city and leased to Randy Plyler, a Weatherford Realtor and businessman, under an operating agreement. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • Prosecutors said the duo made off with more than $274,000 in cash, casino chips, designer bags and other property.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026
  • Lola 41 is already associated with White Elephant’s Nantucket and Palm Beach properties, and has satellites in Boston and Naples.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • There are also locations to rent snowshoes and canoes, and places to swim, picnic and ride a boat.
    USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
  • For too many, the dream of owning or renting a first home in New York is unattainable.
    Micah Lasher, New York Daily News, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • But among recent high-profile moves, Alibaba reportedly hired Google DeepMind researcher Hao Zhou to support Qwen AI development.
    Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 5 June 2026
  • In February, The New York Times reported DHS hired a social media manager accused of White-nationalist messaging.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Star City intended to ask the town for exemptions from several zoning rules, but argued that the request was justified because the tract is best used for housing despite being close to the Berlin Turnpike.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
  • The Fort Worth Independent School District issued a new request for proposals May 29, seeking proposals from developers interested in purchasing and developing some of the tracts of property surrounding Farrington Field stadium.
    Ciara McCarthy June 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • Hilton wants to restore California’s competitive edge as a place for productions by creating financial incentives for film productions, cover the initial and technical costs associated with the development of a film or television project and reserve funding for independent and mid-budget projects.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • Several of the advanced weapons systems the battleships are intended to field remain in development; the Navy hasn’t yet shown they can be integrated successfully onto a ship.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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