lease 1 of 2

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

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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

lease

2 of 2

noun

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
Verb
According to Valentine, the townhouses are on the market, and the multifamily units are expected to be available for lease this fall. Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 14 Sep. 2025 Talks of a potential lease sale come as Miami-Dade continues court proceedings to try and evict the Seaquarium from the county land. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
The vote, which does not constitute project approval, also means Port of San Diego staff can begin lease negotiations with Brigantine. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025 Just in the city of San Francisco alone, over the last 2½ years, 1 out of every 4 square feet of office space was leased by an AI company, according to CBRE. Diana Olick, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Verb
  • Infrastructure must adapt to the pace of markets, users and workloads—subscribing to capabilities, renting intelligence and viewing the internet as an orchestration layer rather than a possession.
    Vincentas Grinius, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • More daring vacationers can rent kayaks or hop on a whale-watching excursion, Sunset said.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Masino was hired at Cracker Barrel in 2023 after holding top positions at Taco Bell and Starbucks’ smaller international divisions and as CEO of Sprinkles Cupcakes.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Executives and entrepreneurs have been for some time finding that other states offer better opportunities (but government managers in California have been hiring, which does more harm to the private sector more than good).
    Kerry Jackson, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The bill will force cities in large counties in the state to allow projects on properties within one-half mile of certain transit stops, even on land that is not zoned for residential use, or face a fine for violating state law.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The Freedom Tower was closed in 2023 to begin the undertaking of the property, which is designated a National Historic Landmark.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Common Symptoms Male UTIs occur when bacteria enter through the urethra (where urine comes out) and spread to the urinary tract (the tubes that remove urine).
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Ketamine therapy’s most common short-term side effects are dizziness and nausea, but in extreme cases, long-term, heavy use of ketamine is associated with memory problems, gastrointestinal issues, and urinary tract infections, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some kinds of difficulty are essential for mental development, just as physical resistance is essential for building muscle.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The two tech firms are discussing a sizable deal to support data center development in the country which could ultimately be worth billions of dollars, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC, confirming earlier reporting from the Financial Times.
    Ryan Browne, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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