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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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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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
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
After police declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order, several people who refused to leave were arrested, authorities said.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Healthy leaves indicate that the plant's essential systems are functioning properly, such as nutrient transport, water absorption, and photosynthesis.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Verb
Then as during the latest shutoffs, people complained that Xcel didn’t keep the public updated, leaving them in the dark as to how long the electricity would be off.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
After police declared an unlawful assembly and issued a dispersal order, several people who refused to leave were arrested, authorities said.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
Place it in a sunny spot, watering only when the soil is dry to the touch, until the leaves have yellowed.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
Healthy leaves indicate that the plant's essential systems are functioning properly, such as nutrient transport, water absorption, and photosynthesis.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leave
Verb
-
Restaurant tables sat empty, business windows went dark and students’ desks were abandoned in several cities across the country Friday amid a nationwide strike in protest of the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
According to charging documents, officers later found Seymour’s apartment unlocked and abandoned, her vehicle parked at Salt Lake City International Airport, and a notebook outlining plans to discard phones and documents.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Leon's children filed a civil lawsuit in the Clark County Circuit Court in 2024 claiming that Jamey took money that was bequeathed to them after their father's death in 2018.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The approach can reduce the risk of injury, exhaustion and people quitting altogether, Stanford said.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Yet O'Hara, who in 1981 quit Saturday Night Live after one week, has earned a reputation as a performer who doesn't want to work.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Damascus had asked Beirut to hand them over to continue their prison terms in Syria, but Lebanese judicial officials said Beirut would not release any attackers and that each must be studied and resolved separately.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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The game effectively ended with an infamous play call by then-Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who opted to have then-quarterback Russell Wilson throw the ball at the one-yard line instead of handing it off to running back Marshawn Lynch.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Colleyville Heritage dumps Argyle in 2 OTs Colleyville Heritage got a hugh lay in by Sameer Johnson at the fourth quarter buzzer, off an assist by Dmauri Evans, to tie the game at 48 allowing the Panthers to subdue Argyle 57-51 in double overtime on Thursday.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Packers could certainly dump Banks and move Jenkins back to left guard.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Roger always just let people in.—
Patrick McEnroe,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Choose one issue each week that others may have let linger and take ownership of bringing it to resolution.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Longtime Las Vegas visitors liken the decline of buffets to the disappearance of the 99-cent shrimp cocktail, another iconic offering that had contributed to the city’s reputation as an affordable vacation spot.—
Jessica Hill,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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The vacation was among those cited Friday by Sacramento County sheriff’s Detective Monica Bustamante in a review of personal expenses allegedly charged by Reina, 60, to the NPR affiliate licensed to Sacramento State.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Used with the permission of the publisher, Viking.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production involving Sydney Sweeney as reported by TMZ, nor did anyone seek a license or permission from the Chamber for that production.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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