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
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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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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?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to let
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
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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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leave
Richard Ramos, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
When the coach did something inappropriate or abusive—ogling them in the showers, leaving his hand on their backsides a count or two too long, rubbing their thigh on a car ride to their homes—they’d simply grin and bear it.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 7 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
Police said demonstrators were not forced to leave and began dispersing on their own once officers arrived.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
When the coach did something inappropriate or abusive—ogling them in the showers, leaving his hand on their backsides a count or two too long, rubbing their thigh on a car ride to their homes—they’d simply grin and bear it.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 7 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
-
The Miami Hurricanes are at home, while the entire state of Indiana – save for some in West Lafayette – is content to abandon their homes to enjoy this unexpectedly stupefying playoff march.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Season One concludes with the Texas Tech geology graduate abandoning a well crew after tragedy strikes, only to achieve rapid success in his personal and work endeavors.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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There are also wooden pews made for the school’s Bond Chapel and 72,000 glass slides from the art-history department, all of which were bequeathed to Gates over the years.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Placer County, which estimates that 16,000 residents could lose health care coverage by 2028, quit operating its own clinics nearly a decade ago.—
KFF Health News,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After quitting acting, Kibrick attended the University of Southern California and worked in real estate development.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump came close to victory in the 2020 presidential election but may have contributed to the Republican Party’s defeat in the Georgia Senate runoff election, handing the Democratic Party full control of Washington for the first time since 2011.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Grounds laid for a civil court appeal Before the judge handed the case to the jury Wednesday, the defense argued a statement by one of Zwerner’s attorneys that Parker did not testify in her defense could be seen as prejudicial by the jury.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In a class-action suit, originally launched in 1993, the Cofán accused Texaco of dumping 18 billion gallons of oily wastewater across their ancestral lands between 1964 and 1990.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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The novel follows children’s librarian Daphne after her fiancé, Peter, dumps her for his childhood best friend, Petra.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Making sure pan handles are turned outward, moving flammable towels and potholders away from open burners and not letting grease build up.—
Tina Patel,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The straight-leg fit here is the ideal balance for anyone who doesn’t love baggy or wide-leg styles, and the ankle-grazing length lets your favorite winter boots take center stage.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
By Saturday the ban was lifted, but several vacationers were forced into extended vacations waiting for their next trip home.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Juan Reyes, 49, Enin’s friend and the superintendent of his apartment building, told The News that Enin had recently returned from a vacation in Africa.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hunt 0234 is valid on private and public lands in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, but private only in the southern Lower Peninsula, as well as Fort Custer military lands, with permission.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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At oral arguments, the justices expressed scepticism that the White House has the power to impose taxes on trade without the permission of Congress under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leave. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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