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

2
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
The Board of Education said in a letter to families that members will identify an interim superintendent who can lead the district after Dorland leaves. Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 9 May 2026 When Gundula leaves for a few weeks, Hannes tends the geranium in her absence, with a dedication that proves enrapturing for him, even transformative. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 That leaves Patrick Paul to play left tackle and Austin Jackson as right tackle. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026 McManus’ exit leaves rookie sixth-round pick and Severna Park native Trey Smack and Lucas Havrisik as the two kickers on Green Bay’s roster. Steve Megargee, Baltimore Sun, 8 May 2026 The victim leaves behind a sister and two nephews. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026 That leaves us with Coleman, the Dolphins’ second of three fifth-round picks, a slot weapon who has thrived at all four of his college stops. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026 Her resignation now leaves Charlotte officials with key decisions about how the transition will work and who could lead the city next. Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026 For all the staging prowess, the final battle scene leaves one more agog on screen. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
Vents should be kept free of leaves, dirt, and debris, and not be obstructed by vegetation. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 14 May 2026 If Hethington can source the preferred barramundi, look for the green-fig-leaves fish roast. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026 Safe Haven depicts three children playing under a squirrel, a cardinal and an owl while under a tree with leaves falling upon them. Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026 Their leaves waft a citrus-like scent and can be used to infuse lemon or lime flavors into various recipes. Haniya Rae, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026 To reduce the risk of mildew issues, keep watermelon leaves as dry as possible by directing your hose at the soil line or using drip irrigation. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 May 2026 The idea of creating a seedless watermelon came from Japanese scientists who, in the late 1930’s, applied colchicine to young seedlings at their shoot apex when the first true seedling leaves began to form. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 As plants use rainwater to grow, their leaves pick up the rain’s characteristic ratio of hydrogen isotopes—atoms with the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons. Hannah Richter, Scientific American, 7 May 2026 The list spans roots, leaves, fruits and mushrooms. Ryan Brennan may 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaves
Verb
  • In California, anyone who abandons an elderly person under certain circumstances can be charged with a misdemeanor or possibly a felony.
    Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 1 May 2026
  • In 1849 Melville switched to full-on fiction with a romance about an American sailor who abandons his whaling ship to explore the South Pacific.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • He was seen during his Tuesday practice round messing with his shoe and sock on his right foot before ultimately calling it quits.
    Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
  • Like Outlander, there are lots of issues but at its core this is still a pretty fun show that just really needs to call it quits.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Jesus Vasquez hands a petition to another student.
    Chierstin Roth, CBS News, 11 May 2026
  • The partnership hands a big win to OpenAI’s biggest competitor at the peak of Musk’s public feud with OpenAI, and provides a roadmap to where the relationship between Musk and Anthropic could head next.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • After New Year’s our mother dumps it, with all the glossy families and chirpy letters, in the trash.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
  • After Frankie's fiancé dumps her before their wedding, she and George embark on a trip to Tofino, on what would have been Frankie's honeymoon.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Texas property owners dealing with squatters got a faster legal path under Senate Bill 1333, which lets owners file an affidavit with the sheriff to have trespassers removed without going through full eviction proceedings, as outlined in the law that took effect in September 2025.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2026
  • The structure lets the AI know that this is a credible book on this particular topic.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Alba's life after her divorce from Warren includes family getaways with their three children and vacations with Ramirez.
    Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
  • Ever since, the teeny pup, who turns 13 in July 2026, has been seen everywhere from radio station appearances to Caribbean vacations with her dad.
    Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • CFOs will likely want assurance that, as agents proliferate, companies have strong controls over identities, permissions, policy enforcement, lifecycle management, monitoring, and auditability.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 11 May 2026
  • User roles and preset permissions include Company Admin, HR Manager, Standard All Access, Track Time Only, and View Company Reports.
    Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Many guests are juggling packed itineraries—pyramid visits, museum stops, Nile cruise transfers—and the staff are well practiced at coordinating drivers, guides, and early departures.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • The nomination signals Trump is backing away from promises to eliminate FEMA, as Hamilton joins a beleaguered agency depleted by staff departures and a 75-day DHS shutdown.
    Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Leaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaves. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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