1
as in to abandon
to cause to remain behind
you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to quit
to give up (a job or office)
he left his job in the city and moved out into the country
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to hand
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?
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5
as in to dump
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
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6
as in to let
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
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1
as in vacation
a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended
the soldier was on leave for three days before having to report back to base
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2
as in permission
the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something
the editor gave the reporters leave to follow up on their initial investigation of the senator's fund-raising practices
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in departure
the act of leaving a place
the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leave
Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026
Connecticut is a part of a deregulated regional electrical grid, and Nicola noted that electricity is bought and sold on the open market, leaving the risks of building new plants to private companies.
—Krisztian Elcsics, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
This problem lessens as more roots grow and the leaves thicken up a little more.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
After leaving Darlene Lane, the family moved four times in four months — at times paying their mortgage and rent simultaneously.
—Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 18 May 2026
Connecticut is a part of a deregulated regional electrical grid, and Nicola noted that electricity is bought and sold on the open market, leaving the risks of building new plants to private companies.
—Krisztian Elcsics, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Noun
Wet the foliage first so that the baking soda sticks to the leaves.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
This problem lessens as more roots grow and the leaves thicken up a little more.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
As those commitments are abandoned, there’s a financial price to pay, including more than $9 billion of write-downs for Honda, which made its first operating loss in the company’s history.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
-
Famously, many migration projects end up in some sort of failure—behind schedule, over budget, incomplete or abandoned.—
Thomas Berndorfer,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The Cubs bequeathing the dubious distinction of the sport’s longest title drought to Cleveland.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
One version of the nation’s history anchors itself in the efforts to navigate those tempests, to better the imperfect tools bequeathed to us by imperfect men.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The thesis of Brady’s commencement, though, was battling through adversity and never quitting, and the best way for Brady to tell his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
These are intended to offer an appealing alternative smoking cessation product for adults who wish to quit.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Din tries to simply hand the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, but this isn't an option.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
-
If left unaddressed, that vulnerability could hand Beijing enormous leverage over American industry for decades to come.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Ferm Living stackable metal baskets keep you from dumping clothes in a pile.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
15 May 2026
-
As college athletic departments desperately look for money to pay mostly football and men’s basketball players, dumping a golf, tennis, track or swimming and diving program is an easy way to help with the budget.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The high ceilings and white walls let the whole space feel sunlit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
-
Braun told these hatchlings that they were too wedded to script, and needed to learn how to let sound tell the story.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The traditional start of summer vacation season — Memorial Day — is little more than a week away.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
-
Even Dua Lipa—arguably the reigning queen of vacation dressing—gave her stamp of approval, posting an Instagram photo wearing the brand’s Alex sunglasses in tortoise.—
Lauren Fisher,
Footwear News,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The vessel had been stranded off its intended final destination, Cape Verde in West Africa, after authorities denied it permission to dock there.—
Patrick Smith,
NBC news,
18 May 2026
-
Would doctors have withheld a relatively minor procedure that would prevent imminent death of a young adult with (potentially) a full life ahead because the proxy refused to give permission?—
Adam W. Gaffney,
STAT,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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