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 storefront will continue to serve as their commercial kitchen until the end of the lease. — Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 Before installing anything, check your lease and follow the product’s weight limits, surface requirements and removal instructions. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
The chain’s restaurants were leased back to it under a 25-year master lease, which included 2% annual escalators, extending until the early 2040s, according to the initial deal terms. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, in the rental market, the blockbuster RealPage lawsuit alleged that the company’s leasing software pooled landlords’ data and spit out rent recommendations that helped landlords raise rents in lockstep. — Lindsay Owens, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • The backstory In a city packed with hotel chains that often feel too buttoned-up, this 83-room boutique property stands out for its free and creative spirit.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • If your county does not offer alerts, set a recurring reminder to review your property records once or twice a year.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Insider tip Bring (or rent) a car and use the speedy on-site valet which will whisk your vehicle in and out for adventures beyond the city center.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some fans even moved in, buying $100,000 homes or renting $380-per-month apartments in surrounding subdivisions.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The company began ramping up manufacturing and hiring earlier this year.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The film, billed as a biographical dramedy, tells the story of a chaotic boardroom crisis at OpenAI in November 2023, when co-founder Altman was fired and then re-hired at the AI giant.
    — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Constraints have been rising in the Nordics, where investors were drawn to large tracts of land and renewable energy.
    — April Roach,Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The 67-year-old has multiple chronic health conditions, and developed a urinary tract infection while in ICE detention.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The backstory Capella’s first Thai outpost shares the Chao Phraya Estate, a big-bucks development just downstream from the river’s major transport hub, with the Four Seasons Bangkok.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Challenging market conditions mean construction is yet to start at Grand Balaton, an upscale residential development in Balatonakarattya at the eastern end of the lake, about an hour's drive from central Budapest.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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