leave 1 of 2

Definition of leavenext
1
2
as in to bequeath
to give by means of a will I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6

leave

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3

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 leave
Verb
As the water evaporates, the artwork disappears, leaving a blank canvas ready for next time. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 Just outside the hotel, there’s a gondola ferry that crosses the Grand Canal and leaves you in front of the Rialto Market. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 May 2026
Noun
Those leaves turn a brilliant gold in the fall, lighting up the forests along the Byway, but the groves are impressive at just about any time of year. Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026 More than 2,600 of the district’s 9,000 teachers requested leave for Friday, according to public records. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
  • In at least one instance, the driver was able to fight off a gunman and force the would-be robbers to abandon their plan, prosecutors said.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
  • People facing the prospect of prolonged ICE detention are increasingly abandoning their claims for humanitarian protection and agreeing to depart voluntarily.
    Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • Among the additions to the AKG holdings in that time was the estate of Marisol, a Pop artist who bequeathed it to the museum upon her death in 2016; the museum organized an acclaimed traveling retrospective of her art that first opened in 2023 and landed at the museum the following year.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Food aside, Sloane’s refusal to quit was the biggest factor, according to Lincoln-Way Central coach Ryan Kutt.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
  • Then, about a week after the jury was announced, its members collectively quit, without an explanation.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • So when Jaden Smith wandered over to sign autographs, Huang handed the reel to him instead.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
  • The whole point is to remove the decisions, not hand them back to her.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • The sewage would then be ground up by a pump inside the sump and lifted up 8 feet or so to dump into the elevated building drain.
    Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
  • His teammates, seemingly stunned by the magnitude of the moment, swarmed him at home plate and dumped Gatorade on Alaniz in celebration of the 5-4 victory.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Choose one interaction to handle with calm and clarity today, and let that set a steadier tone for everything that follows.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Start the conversation, make your point clearly, and let the response shape what happens next instead of adjusting midstream.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • While on vacation in Tokyo with her kids and new beau Lewis Hamilton, Kardashian snapped a goofy selfie with her baby boy.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
  • Planning a 2026 cruise vacation?
    Dave Parfitt, USA Today, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • Taiwan blamed China for blocking the trip, accusing Beijing of forcing the African nations to deny permission for Lai’s aircraft to pass through their airspace.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 4 May 2026
  • Authorities in the West African island nation have denied the MV Hondius permission to dock at the port of Praia as a precautionary measure, complicating efforts to evacuate sick passengers and provide urgent medical care.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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