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

4
5
6

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
His teammates - more akin to bodyguards this summer - do the dirty work, which leaves Messi to focus solely on unlocking the opposition’s defense with his unrivaled quality. Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 July 2026 Marazzi leaves his wife, Lois, his sons Brian and Richard, and their families. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 The City Council is in recess for August, which leaves no future meeting for nominees to be appointed before September. Nik Hunder, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 Every quantum operation leaves a unique fingerprint The researchers also developed a fully device-independent version of the protocol. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026 His contract leaves open the possibility of playing for two more seasons. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 17 July 2026 The statement leaves some room for agents to accommodate travelers under United’s existing change policies, but the airline said an objection to the airport’s name or code is not, by itself, an official reason for a fee-free change. Josh Rivera, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Proponents argue recordings would solve a long-standing crisis that leaves many proceedings with no verbatim record. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Detergent overdosing also leaves behind a film on the inside of the washer, which feeds mold and causes odors. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
Noun
Remove and discard the outer two to three layers of leaves and wash inner leaves under running water. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 Sweep the porch and steps to remove any leaves, lawn clippings, mulch, or other debris that can trap moisture around the posts. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 Add 1 small bunch collard greens, ribs and stems removed, leaves torn, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted and bright green, about 4 minutes. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 July 2026 Milling stations where ancestors used cups carved into rock faces to grind salmon, manzanita berries and bay leaves. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Always try to keep at least two 5-leaflet leaves on each rose shoot. Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026 Even minor parks or embers might be carried into leaves or grass, kindling a fire that can swiftly expand. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Starry summer nights and crisp fall evenings beg for campfire chats and waking beneath a canopy of leaves. Tree Meinch, Midwest Living, 11 July 2026 Part the leaves and look for insects down among the stems and near the ground. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaves
Verb
  • When Moore finally abandons the pretense and focuses in earnest on his presidential ambitions, the damage to Maryland will be incalculable and likely irreparable.
    Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2026
  • Watch On After losing their son, Gaku (Kengo Kora), in battle, the Tawara family blends back into modern Japanese life and abandons their nights-and-weekends ninja mayhem.
    David Faris, TheWeek, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • Dru-Ann quits her job Drama over Dru-Ann’s career is pervasive both on the page and onscreen.
    Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026
  • Operating under the assumption that Platner quits the race in the coming days, Republicans are planning a negative ad blitz to undermine Collins' next opponent immediately.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Merino’s second late winner in as many games puts Spain into the final four with a 2-1 win, and hands a point to the experts, Wilfred and the Algo.
    The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 11 July 2026
  • So anyone who hands you a single, clean AI visibility score with no caveat is selling you a snapshot of noise.
    Meghna Deshraj, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • At one point, Jiavani, alone in Room 1 for a round of Count the Rice, just dumps all the rice into her Room 2 mocktail and drinks it.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • News 12 reported that the boy's body had been discovered at a waste collection center in Stamford, having been brought there by a truck that dumps trash and recyclables there.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Apple’s Declared Age Range API lets the operating system attest to a broad age range, with no birthdate and no document changing hands.
    Ravi Iyer, Time, 18 July 2026
  • Among users of Greenlight, a family finance app that lets parents automate allowance delivery, the average annual allowance given by NYC parents in 2025 was $831, or roughly $16 a week.
    Erika Janes, Curbed, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Minis are a versatile option for whatever summer has in store—vacations, parties, even the office (with the right shoes, of course).
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 17 July 2026
  • Mesh ballet flats bring an effortless, fashion-forward feel to your wardrobe, while strappy sandals are an easy pick for beach vacations and warm-weather weekends.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • However, a separate June 11, 2023, email shows DOJ personnel discovered that software permissions could allow investigators to access certain search-warrant material before its review was complete.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 14 July 2026
  • On a phone or tablet, check location, camera, microphone and nearby device permissions.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • The new movie makes several key departures from the ancient epic poem attributed to Homer.
    Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • Because some of my earliest departures happen before my neighborhood coffee shop or even the airport lounge opens, caffeine is a non-negotiable.
    Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaves. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on leaves

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster