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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to dump
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to let
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
23 June 2026
But even with a magnificent performance from an inspired goalkeeper, there’s no way that this result should have happened, even with Luis de la Fuente’s decision to leave Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the bench.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
21 June 2026
Some modern varieties have gold or reddish leaves or a weeping form.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
These formulas are packed with ingredients that help hydrate skin (all while continuing to cleanse it), and will leave you feeling refreshed, bouncy, and moisturized.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
23 June 2026
But even with a magnificent performance from an inspired goalkeeper, there’s no way that this result should have happened, even with Luis de la Fuente’s decision to leave Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams on the bench.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
Try lemons, limes, melons, strawberries, cucumbers, jalapeño slices, or mint leaves for variety.
—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
21 June 2026
Some modern varieties have gold or reddish leaves or a weeping form.
—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
With a lockout coming, fans who lack trust in the organization could abandon their fandom completely.
-
After her father abandoned the family, her mother moved Blyth and her sister to New York City.
Verb
-
William inherited the piece after her death in 1997, eventually bequeathing it to his wife.
-
In contrast, the railway boom and the internet stock bubble bequeathed to the economy some vital infrastructure, such as tracks, rolling stock, and fibre-optic cables.
Verb
-
Yes, some people drank so much that they got fired and hit on random people and drove drunk—those people should obviously quit.
-
The Face of the Band Leaves In 1985, strung out from the road and eager to focus on his solo career, Cetera quit Chicago.
Verb
-
The announcement came just hours after the Supreme Court handed a major victory to the makers of the weedkiller Roundup, shielding it from thousands of lawsuits from states alleging the company failed to warn people the product could cause cancer.
-
Trea Turner drove in Hill with a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, and Philadelphia spoiled Andy Green's debut as Mets interim manager by handing New York its seventh consecutive defeat.
Verb
-
Plum Island beaches in Newburyport, Massachusetts are closed after 60,000 gallons of wastewater were accidentally dumped into the Merrimack River on Thursday.
-
By the end of the debate, about 150 men dressed in Indigenous costumes, their faces smeared with soot, stormed to a nearby wharf and dumped a literal boatload of tea into the water.
Verb
-
The longtime head coach of Alameda High School baseball says he was suddenly let go after 25 years leading the program, a decision that's now drawing backlash from players, parents, and the community.
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.
Noun
-
Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
-
Travelers, beware jet skis in the Bahamas Travelers are being warned to be wary of jet ski excursions in the Bahamas, a popular cruise and vacation destination for Americans.
Noun
-
Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
-
Comic books until then had been strictly boys’-own adventures, with titles like Eagle and Hotspur, that gave young boys permission to revel in the grim 20th century wars their fathers had fought in.
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
