Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

leave

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of leave

1 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 of leave

break, holiday [chiefly British], hols [British], recess, vacation
Words Related to leave

sabbatical

furlough, liberty

breather, relaxation, respite, rest

interim, intermission, interval

feast, holy day, legal holiday

idling, loafing, lounging, slacking
2 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
Synonyms of leave

allowance, authorization, clearance, concurrence, consent, granting, green light, license (or licence), permission, sanction, sufferance, warrant
Words Related to leave

imprimatur, seal, signature, stamp

accreditation, certification

liberty, pass

concession, patent, permit

tolerance, toleration

acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, OK (or okay)

accord, grant
Near Antonyms of leave

denial, refusal, rejection, revocation

taboo (also tabu)

injunction, veto

deterrence, discouragement, repression, suppression

ban, embargo, exclusion
Antonyms of leave

interdiction, prohibition, proscription
3 the act of leaving a place
  • the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave
Synonyms of leave

decamping, decampment, departing, departure, exit, exiting, farewell, going, leave-taking, lighting out, outgo, parting, quitting, walking out
Words Related to leave

flight, retirement, retreat, running away, withdrawal

diaspora, emigration, evacuation, exodus

embarkation, embarkment

disembarkation, egress

abandonment, forsaking, relinquishment
Near Antonyms of leave

coming

approach, entrance, ingress
Antonyms of leave

advent, appearance, arrival

leave

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of leave

1 to cause to remain behind
  • you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while weʼre outside
  • starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another
Synonyms of leave

abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit, strand
Words Related to leave

discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out

deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield

escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from)

abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from)

sacrifice

distance

disregard, forget, ignore, neglect
Phrases Synonymous with leave

walk away from, walk out on
Near Antonyms of leave

harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold

redeem, rescue, save
Antonyms of leave

reclaim
2 to give by means of a will
  • Iʼm going to leave all of my possessions to my children
Synonyms of leave

bequeath, will
Words Related to leave

deed

hand down, hand on, pass (down)

devise
3 to give up (a job or office)
  • he left his job in the city and moved out into the country
Synonyms of leave

bag, chuck, quit, resign (from), retire (from), step aside (from), step down (from)
Words Related to leave

abandon, vacate

drop out (of), throw up
Phrases Synonymous with leave

give notice
Near Antonyms of leave

hire (out or on)
Antonyms of leave

stay (at)
4 to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
  • why donʼt you leave your watch with me while you swim?
Synonyms of leave

commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust (also intrust), give, give over, hand, hand over, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest
Words Related to leave

confer, grant

assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide

hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield

bequeath, hand down, hand on, will

advance, lend, loan

furnish, supply

recommit, redeliver, regive, retransfer, retransmit
Near Antonyms of leave

detain, hold back, reserve, withhold

own, possess

accept, receive, take in

occupy, take, take over
Antonyms of leave

hold, keep, retain
5 to end a usually intimate relationship with
  • is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
Synonyms of leave

blow off, break off (with), ditch, dump, jilt, kiss off
Words Related to leave

brush (aside or off), cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub

abandon, desert, forsake, maroon, quit
Phrases Synonymous with leave

kiss good-bye
Near Antonyms of leave

hook up (with), take

befriend, latch (on or onto)
6 to give permission to
  • aw, leave him come
Synonyms of leave

allow, let, permit
Words Related to leave

authorize, commission, empower, license (also licence)

approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction

free, liberate, release

cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
Near Antonyms of leave

deter, discourage

bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent
Antonyms of leave

enjoin, forbid, prohibit

Learn More about leave

  1. See words that rhyme with leave Dictionary: Definition of leave Spanish Central: Translation of leave Nglish: Translation of leave for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of leave for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up leave? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games