leaves 1 of 2

Definition of leavesnext
present tense third-person singular of leave
1
2
as in bequeaths
to give by means of a will I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in quits
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

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leaves

2 of 2

noun

plural of leave
1
as in vacations
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

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3

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 leaves
Verb
And Aneksi rarely leaves my side. Jennifer Wolfgram, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026 Myka leaves this interaction believing Missé over Dara and saying she’s done with their friendship. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026 But then the camera pans over to a certain object that leaves a lingering question mark and begs for a sequel. Melinda Newman, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2026 Which leaves a two-pronged takeaway. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026 Even if your home's curb appeal leaves a good impression, a dirty sidewalk can hog the spotlight. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026 Wingfield leaves behind her parents and her three brothers. Michael Guise, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026 His absence leaves a hole, particularly as a reserve in the frontcourt to relieve Alex Karaban, who had to play all 40 minutes in two of the three games Stewart missed at the end of the regular season. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026 This one contains AHAs, volcanic pumice, and glycerin for a mix of physical and chemical exfoliation that leaves the skin smooth, soft, and glowy. Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
The same insect can munch leaves in summer as a caterpillar, sleep through winter as a pupa, and sip flower nectar in spring as a butterfly. Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026 Even sparks or embers carried by the wind can ignite nearby leaves or grass, triggering a fire that spreads rapidly. Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026 Like the dead leaves piling up on the driveway, Darryl is often unlikeable, or seen as simply a nuisance. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 Spritz on just a little and polish with a rag or cloth to make the leaves of artificial plants shine, giving them the illusion of being real. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 Many seeds do not need light to germinate, but once those first leaves break through the soil surface, the light should be strong and constant to prevent weak, leggy seedlings. Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2026 The inaugural mow of the season removes dead leaves and debris, allowing your grass to access more sunlight. Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 11 Mar. 2026 Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the circular lounge and its central bar, which is distinguished by a massive birch tree with gray feathers instead of leaves suspended from branches. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026 Her shoes had Marijuana leaves on the sides. Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaves
Verb
  • The end of the pilot offers one option, then tries it out again at the end of Episode 2, and then abandons it for the rest of the season.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Sometimes the game simply abandons you.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Governing body head quits Yet this year’s festival comes at a time of crisis in British racing.
    Ian King, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Instead, Carolyn quits her job.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mazloum will officially succeed D’Amaro next Wednesday, the same day that Bob Iger hands the keys to the kingdom to the next generation of leadership.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
  • But suspicion softens when someone hands you a plate of food.
    Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As a demo, one of the artisans dumps a sack of more than 200 bones (a gray fox, incidentally) into a random jumble on a workbench.
    Jeff Wilson, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Nature dumps 12 to 18 inches of inconvenience uniformly across an entire community and leaves it up to you and your neighbors to sort out the mess.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • This simple pie lets farmer's market berries shine.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations.
    Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • After installation, go into your phone's settings and audit which apps have constant internet access, background activity rights or special device permissions.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Developers are required to obtain certain permissions from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality before construction on the project can begin.
    Nick Wooten, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Chicago O’Hare issued a ground stop on Tuesday night due to thunderstorms, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with flight departures delayed an average of 15 minutes and increasing.
    Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The criminal section in the Civil Rights Division now has approximately 10 prosecutors, down from about 30 in recent years, amid early retirements, transfers and departures for other jobs, sources tell CBS News.
    Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Leaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaves. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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