as in departing
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as in retirement
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Dissimilar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in dumping
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in letting
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of leaving
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Anderson is Manchester United’s top target, but Manchester City are also in the frame, with Bernardo Silva leaving and Rodri’s future uncertain.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Mascherano is not the only one leaving.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Mays then drove up to the man, got out of his car and shot him before getting back inside the vehicle and leaving, according to the report.
—David Goodhue
april 13, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
With Peterson, Council and White leaving, the Jayhawks will lose three starters who combined to average 47 points per game.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Additional markets, lighting and winter programming across nearby streets could encourage visitors to explore multiple blocks rather than visiting one location and leaving.
—Liam Stanton, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The drone captured two sets of ski tracks entering the avalanche area, but only one leaving, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Kyle leaving is an upset for both his allies and the audience.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
His original boss, national security adviser Mike Waltz, was booted to the United Nations after the Signalgate scandal, leaving the role to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was already juggling portfolios and is busier now with Iran.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
In the eight-part audio drama Babalu, Sherry Zhang died by suicide in 1989, leaving behind a baby daughter Luisa and, unbeknownst to her family, dozens of cassette tapes recording her innermost thoughts.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Train 98, part of the Silver Meteor route between Miami and New York, was forced to stop near Jacksonville, leaving some passengers stuck onboard for extended periods.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The film is fairly gory, and Taccone recently endured his own experience of body horror; while attempting to finish a mural at his home in Connecticut, the director fell from a ladder and shattered his pelvis, leaving him unable to walk for months.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias, vanished weeks apart in 2025 under nearly identical circumstances, each leaving behind their car, keys, wallet, and phone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
The synthetic polymer alternative to polyester can biodegrade in marine environments without leaving a trail of microplastics, according to the company.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
Using bone conduction technology, sound is delivered through your cheekbones, leaving your ears open to stay aware of your surroundings.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
In post-pandemic Shanghai, two women — one leaving, one staying — share a single electric night wandering the city.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Anderson is Manchester United’s top target, but Manchester City are also in the frame, with Bernardo Silva leaving and Rodri’s future uncertain.
—David Ornstein, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2026
Mascherano is not the only one leaving.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Mays then drove up to the man, got out of his car and shot him before getting back inside the vehicle and leaving, according to the report.
—David Goodhue
april 13, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
With Peterson, Council and White leaving, the Jayhawks will lose three starters who combined to average 47 points per game.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Additional markets, lighting and winter programming across nearby streets could encourage visitors to explore multiple blocks rather than visiting one location and leaving.
—Liam Stanton, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The drone captured two sets of ski tracks entering the avalanche area, but only one leaving, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Kyle leaving is an upset for both his allies and the audience.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Cubs stranded a season-high 17 runners on base Tuesday, their first win when leaving at least 17 on base since June 2, 2018, and their first at Wrigley Field since July 3, 2010 (both also had 17 LOB).
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
His original boss, national security adviser Mike Waltz, was booted to the United Nations after the Signalgate scandal, leaving the role to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was already juggling portfolios and is busier now with Iran.
—Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 21 Apr. 2026
In the eight-part audio drama Babalu, Sherry Zhang died by suicide in 1989, leaving behind a baby daughter Luisa and, unbeknownst to her family, dozens of cassette tapes recording her innermost thoughts.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Train 98, part of the Silver Meteor route between Miami and New York, was forced to stop near Jacksonville, leaving some passengers stuck onboard for extended periods.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The film is fairly gory, and Taccone recently endured his own experience of body horror; while attempting to finish a mural at his home in Connecticut, the director fell from a ladder and shattered his pelvis, leaving him unable to walk for months.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias, vanished weeks apart in 2025 under nearly identical circumstances, each leaving behind their car, keys, wallet, and phone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
The synthetic polymer alternative to polyester can biodegrade in marine environments without leaving a trail of microplastics, according to the company.
—Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026
Using bone conduction technology, sound is delivered through your cheekbones, leaving your ears open to stay aware of your surroundings.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaving
Noun
-
This evocative tale explores the uncertainty of leaving home, even if departing means rejoining a cherished relationship.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Travel at some of the region’s largest airports was sharply curtailed with more than 5,000 flights — arriving and departing — were canceled Monday from Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport in Arlington, VA, north to Boston’s Logan International Airport.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The same day, a judge sentenced her to serve three years of probation for abandoning Kha’liya’s body.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Fuqua thought about abandoning the project, but ultimately agreed to reconceive it instead.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 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
-
Rewriting society’s decision-making Unlike biased pundits who hem, haw and hedge their bets, Web3 prediction markets cut through noise, bequeathing a signal that feeds into pricing mechanisms themselves.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That would have meant alternating work days with her husband, relying on their family or one of the two quitting their job entirely.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But many people who start them end up quitting, either because obesity treatment is framed as a limited-duration intervention or because of the cost, loss of insurance or side effects.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Federal prosecutors said someone would collect the drugs from the drone before handing them over to the buyers.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
But there is also a suspicion among defense chiefs, amplified by Robertson, that the Treasury dislikes handing money to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) due to the latter's various procurement mishaps.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fillman and his diving instructor tapped into their survival instincts by dumping their heavy diving gear and tanks and tying themselves together with their remaining gear to prevent them from drifting apart.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Polls show voters give him poor marks on the issue and are leaning toward dumping his Republican allies in the forthcoming midterm congressional elections.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During public comment, resident Ramon Chavoya expressed frustrations with the county and Board Chair Peggy Price for letting the project progress.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This pull between holding on and letting go, between wanting time to slow down and knowing it never will.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their retirement from figure skating on Friday, two months after winning the Olympic gold medal with a record-breaking skate.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Speculation about possible retirements tends to arise as the court approaches the end of its term.—
Jan Crawford,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaving. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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