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 City of Orlando provided the perfect site through a long-term lease. — Linda Chapin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 The owner was having financial trouble, and Ratan stepped in, spoke to the landlord, took over the lease and turned it into a Rye 51 store. — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
Capeweek is spearheaded by Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, which leases the former space shuttle landing facility and surrounding land. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026 As part of it, will lease the turbines to the undisclosed investment-grade firm for an initial period of five years. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • The Russian missiles that hit overnight across the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, damaged homes and commercial properties, triggering new power and water outages, national and city authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Eco effort The property holds Green Key certification and runs initiatives such as rainwater collection for irrigation, reduction of single-use plastics, composting partnerships, and sustainable sourcing of food and beverages.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Through the hotel, guests can sign up for snowshoe hikes or Bavarian curling lessons and rent ice skates and Nordic skis.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • James Carras, an affordable housing advocate who joined the meeting, argued people making below 80% of the area median income should be the ones renting the affordable housing under Live Local.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • When the decision to hire Schottenheimer was made, anything that happened afterward immediately fell on the Joneses up top.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Being on a massive TV set is an intimidating enough position to find yourself in, let alone playing a character who would quickly become an antagonist to the powerful people who’ve hired her.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The human vocal motor cortex comprises subregions that drive movements in discrete parts of the vocal tract, such as the tongue, jaw, and lips.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Change has been constant for the concept, which promises to bring new businesses to one of the last open tracts in the Barber Valley’s development plan.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Fort Worth is considering new restrictions on where and how data centers can be built, including a potential 90-day pause on new development, as residents raise concerns about the impact on their neighborhoods.
    — Erin Jones, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Dodgers looking for Miguel Rojas replacement Rojas already has begun the transition into his player development role with the Dodgers, working with prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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