Synonyms of leaving

leaving 1 of 3

adjective

as in departing

Related Words

• departing
• concluding
• final
• closing
• last
• parting
• farewell
• ultimate
• valedictory

leaving

2 of 3

noun

as in retirement

Related Words

• departing
• retirement
• leave
• departure
• exiting
• exit
• quitting
• abdication
• resignation
• stepping down
• surrender
• relinquishment
• renouncement

Dissimilar Words

• acceptance
• adoption
• embrace
• espousal
• embracement

leaving

3 of 3

verb

present participle of leave

1

as in abandoning

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

• abandoning
• deserting
• dumping
• stranding
• quitting
• forsaking
• ignoring
• escaping
• forgetting
• vacating
• discarding
• marooning
• ditching
• walking away from
• relinquishing
• flinging
• shedding
• scrapping
• rejecting
• walking out on
• sacrificing
• throwing away
• jettisoning
• delivering
• surrendering
• yielding
• withdrawing (from)
• retreating (from)
• renouncing
• separating (from)
• throwing out
• taking off (from)
• cutting off
• neglecting
• giving up
• junking
• repudiating
• disregarding
• handing over
• distancing
• shucking (off)
• disowning
• abjuring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• having
• keeping
• holding
• retaining
• owning
• possessing
• reserving
• reclaiming
• withholding
• saving
• harboring
• rescuing
• redeeming

2

as in bequeathing

to give by means of a will

I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bequeathing
• willing
• passing (down)
• deeding
• devising
• handing down
• handing on

3

as in quitting

to give up (a job or office)

he left his job in the city and moved out into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quitting
• abandoning
• retiring (from)
• vacating
• giving notice
• resigning (from)
• bagging
• chucking
• stepping down (from)
• stepping aside (from)
• throwing up
• dropping out (of)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• staying (at)
• hiring (out or on)

4

as in handing

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• handing
• transferring
• giving
• entrusting
• delivering
• passing
• delegating
• relinquishing
• transmitting
• recommending
• committing
• trusting
• commending
• consigning
• confiding
• granting
• loaning
• reposing
• turning over
• handing over
• submitting
• assigning
• vesting
• dividing
• bequeathing
• lending
• giving over
• distributing
• conferring
• dispersing
• dispensing
• supplying
• dealing (out)
• surrendering
• furnishing
• yielding
• releasing
• willing
• turning in
• advancing
• handing in
• handing down
• handing on
• retransferring
• recommitting
• redelivering
• retransmitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keeping
• holding
• retaining
• reserving
• receiving
• owning
• possessing
• withholding
• taking
• accepting
• occupying
• holding back
• detaining
• taking in
• taking over

5

as in dumping

to end a usually intimate relationship with

is there ever a good way to leave a lover?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dumping
• ditching
• abandoning
• cutting
• breaking off (with)
• jilting
• blowing off
• deserting
• kissing off
• kissing good-bye
• snubbing
• forsaking
• slighting
• brushing (aside or off)
• marooning
• quitting
• cold-shouldering
• high-hatting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• taking
• hooking up (with)
• befriending
• latching (on or onto)

6

as in letting

to give permission to

aw, leave him come

Synonyms & Similar Words

• letting
• allowing
• permitting
• authorizing
• approving
• endorsing
• empowering
• licensing
• sanctioning
• commissioning
• liberating
• freeing
• releasing
• indulging
• catering (to)
• giving in (to)
• humoring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibiting
• forbidding
• preventing
• enjoining
• discouraging
• blocking
• inhibiting
• barring
• obstructing
• curbing
• deterring
• impeding
• constraining
• holding back
• frustrating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of leaving

Noun

By Tuesday night, more than 800 people had signed it, according to the petition, with 26 leaving comments. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Officers responded to a call about shots fired a few blocks away from Beale Street and saw a person armed with a gun leaving, said Memphis police. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Are there concerns in the club over Hughes and his leaving, and the effect of that on the planning and way this summer transfer window has gone? — James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

This is because a senior leader's exit, whether by choice or not, affects the business far more than one employee leaving. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Why leaving room for changes matters Weather, closures and travel delays can rewrite an itinerary overnight. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026

There have been other senior exec exits, with All3 COO Sara Geater and Group Director of Corporate Development Steven Brown leaving. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 July 2026

News of their leaving sent Google’s shares tumbling more than 5% on Monday. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Investigators never found footage of her leaving, according to the outlets, and her body has not been recovered. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

Verb

The statements Canary described were also deleted, leaving a blank page. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026

Only 11% said leaving something for the kids is their top financial goal. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

The rest of the walrus herd departed during heavy surf, leaving the calf hiding between the remains of two adult walruses. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Jeffries never bought into the theory that voters gave Republicans a mandate in 2024 with control of the White House and Congress, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana with one of the smallest majorities in modern times. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

For the second time in four seasons, Boone is set to manage the Yankees on an expiring contract, leaving his future beyond 2027 very much up in the air. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

In his statement, Earley noted the two Customs and Border Patrol vehicles stayed at the polling place for 10 minutes before leaving, and that his office didn’t receive any calls about the incident. — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Pattison joined Ricochet more than two years ago after leaving the UK arm of Pooch Perfect outfit Beyond Productions. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Ambulances were seen leaving the hospital to bring the children's bodies home as mourners wept and wailed. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026