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

Spurs finished 17th in each of the past two seasons and, while Gordon and Isak leaving was frustrating, that was also understandable. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 1 July 2026

The students, who were taking their secondary school leaving examinations when they were attacked and abducted, are between 15 and 18 years old. — ABC News, 30 June 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

In post-pandemic Shanghai, two women — one leaving, one staying — share a single electric night wandering the city. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 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

Verb

Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

Yet almost 90% of new money is chasing AI giants such as Anthropic and OpenAI, leaving non-AI startups and smaller funds squeezed as the pipeline of initial public offerings narrows to a few blockbuster bets. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

NorCal Resist has tracked arrests taking place near school drop off sites, gas stations, parking lots and as people are leaving to work. — Mathew Miranda july 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

To help prevent crashes, TxDOT recommends leaving more space between vehicles when traffic is heavy or roads are slick and watching for changing speed limits, especially in work zones. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026

Elements like the kitchen and storage components are designed to easily remove, leaving the van ready for everyday driving and errand running. — New Atlas, 9 July 2026

In addition to stepping away from the CEO post, the exec is also leaving the Fubo board. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 July 2026

Johnston, Cobbins leaving Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement. — Sofi Zeman july 2, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

The sheriff's office said Butler failed to maintain a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the side of the home. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026