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
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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
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Because Ian passed his road test at 18 as a first-time driver in Maryland, the state issued him a provisional license, leaving him ineligible for employer insurance and out of a job.
—Brendan Hellweg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2026
Roots and leaves are edible, and it is used as a coffee substitute.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
Her fight for freedom leaves everyone scarred.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Because Ian passed his road test at 18 as a first-time driver in Maryland, the state issued him a provisional license, leaving him ineligible for employer insurance and out of a job.
—Brendan Hellweg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
The officer who fired the gun has been placed on administrative leave while the department’s internal affairs unit conducts an investigation, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2026
Roots and leaves are edible, and it is used as a coffee substitute.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
Uncompensated seizure under the land-expropriation law can only be pursued under narrow circumstances—when land is unused or has been abandoned, for example—and the program seemingly has yet to seize any property.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Richard Grenell, the longtime Republican foreign policy adviser who oversaw changes at the Kennedy Center that prompted many artists to abandon the iconic performing arts venue, will step down as the institution's president.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Greville died, the earrings were bequeathed to the Queen Mother, who then, along with her husband King George VI, gave Princess Elizabeth the pair of earrings for her wedding day.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
-
When Greville died, the earrings were part of an extraordinary collection of jewels that were bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.—
Stephanie Bridger-Linning,
Vanity Fair,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
During the news conference, Newey spoke of the struggles Honda had faced when rebuilding its engine project after temporarily quitting F1 in 2020, only to reverse its decision in early 2023 to link up with Aston Martin for 2026.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Her character, the beloved nurse Dana, threatened to quit after she was sucker-punched by a patient during her smoke break.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In short, the court handed the president an off-ramp from one of the most unpopular economic policies of his second term, with a legitimate constitutional explanation attached.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Two weeks ago, Texas Tech handed Iowa State its only home loss of the season.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One-two snowstorm punch Two storm systems in a row — one Friday, then another Sunday into Monday — will chug along the country’s northern tier and Great Lakes and between them could dump 3 to 4 feet of snow in places, Maue said.—
Seth Borenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
One hot summer day, to keep the temperature of the freezer down, Schaefer dumped a bunch of dry ice in, and millions of tiny ice crystals formed on the black velvet lining.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
From the haunting coastline of Namibia to off-road adventures in Iceland, let the 13 trips ahead inform your next adventure.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The update, spotted by Social Media Today, arrives after X faced heavy scrutiny for letting Grok generate sexualized images of users under their posts.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If the dress code calls for true beachy or vacation attire, the Jaylah Strapless Midi Dress from Lulus looks like a wavy, ocean-like print that will blend in perfectly on the shore.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But even in a semi-collapsed state, people want family and children and vacations, and so Caroline somewhat reluctantly joins Adam and a cohort of others on Haven.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The counselor narrated part of her client's story with their permission.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Every president since 1950 has launched military operations against foreign governments, without seeking Congress’ permission or a declaration of war.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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