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
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The Hauler has no cab (essentially a self-driving platform) and is designed for 40-foot and 53-foot shipping containers and runs dock-to-dock—unloading at the destination rather than dropping a trailer and leaving.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 21 Apr. 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
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
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Consequently, rising inflation has steadily eroded real purchasing power, leaving 59 percent of Americans without sufficient savings to absorb a minor financial shock, such as a $1,000 emergency.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
Migration is particularly unpopular in Europe compared to the US, partly because various legal and regulatory hurdles mean many are unable to work, leaving them reliant on government assistance.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Voice and remote control mean these windows are finally manageable without ladders, awkward reaching, or leaving them permanently in one position.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Financials have been the worst-performing sector in the S&P 500 this year amid concerns about credit quality and a slowing economy, leaving JPMorgan trading at roughly 13 times forward earnings.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Nonetheless, Michail Antonio, West Ham’s all-time goalscorer in the Premier League, believes the club should not prevent Bowen from leaving this summer.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Reading outcomes also reflect these challenges; 61% of Broward third graders and 56% in Miami-Dade are reading at grade level, leaving more than 17,000 third graders across both counties not reading proficiently.
—Sky Beard, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Two walks loaded the bases, and Jahmai Jones gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead with a single, leaving the bases still loaded with no one out.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Noun
Sandro Tonali has been heavily linked with a move and there is a decent possibility of the Italian leaving, but only if a club can meet the significant overall cost required, which very few can.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 May 2026
The Hauler has no cab (essentially a self-driving platform) and is designed for 40-foot and 53-foot shipping containers and runs dock-to-dock—unloading at the destination rather than dropping a trailer and leaving.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 21 Apr. 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
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
Verb
My father was running the skid steer outside, clearing the snow, leaving dirty white mounds to either side of the driveway that led from the house out to the range road.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Consequently, rising inflation has steadily eroded real purchasing power, leaving 59 percent of Americans without sufficient savings to absorb a minor financial shock, such as a $1,000 emergency.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
Migration is particularly unpopular in Europe compared to the US, partly because various legal and regulatory hurdles mean many are unable to work, leaving them reliant on government assistance.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Voice and remote control mean these windows are finally manageable without ladders, awkward reaching, or leaving them permanently in one position.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Financials have been the worst-performing sector in the S&P 500 this year amid concerns about credit quality and a slowing economy, leaving JPMorgan trading at roughly 13 times forward earnings.
—Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Nonetheless, Michail Antonio, West Ham’s all-time goalscorer in the Premier League, believes the club should not prevent Bowen from leaving this summer.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Reading outcomes also reflect these challenges; 61% of Broward third graders and 56% in Miami-Dade are reading at grade level, leaving more than 17,000 third graders across both counties not reading proficiently.
—Sky Beard, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Two walks loaded the bases, and Jahmai Jones gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead with a single, leaving the bases still loaded with no one out.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaving
Noun
-
Hupp said that departing is bittersweet.—
Shannon Tyler
May 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 May 2026
-
The Aztecs are hoping to upgrade the center position with both Heide and Compton departing.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
These networks are viewed with less enthusiasm in the age of streaming, because more consumers are abandoning their cable subscriptions in favor of streaming services.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 June 2026
-
Blanche said later at the hearing that the DOJ wasn't abandoning the tax portion of the settlement.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The Cubs bequeathing the dubious distinction of the sport’s longest title drought to Cleveland.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Nicotine is among the most addictive substances known, altering the brain’s reward pathways and making quitting notoriously difficult.—
Kimberly McCreight,
Time,
3 June 2026
-
Pollard, who’d been a first-round pick out of the University of Kansas in the 1998 NBA Draft, thought of quitting.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Nye stopped short of handing a full victory to Boise.—
Darin Oswald,
Idaho Statesman,
3 June 2026
-
First, tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act generated larger-than-usual refunds earlier this year, effectively handing consumers a cash cushion just as income was weakening.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
As the plane taxied down the runway, the toilet started dumping out brown sewage water, Bharucha said.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
1 June 2026
-
There’s also a second 25-meter pool, while the children’s pool features a splash pad and elaborate play structure topped by a giant blue bucket dumping water periodically.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Name your need in simple words, invite their side, and shape a middle path that honors the connection while letting your independent streak breathe a little.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
-
Maybe consider letting big trucks use the bus lanes too.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Looking at what the department could offer officers for competitive salaries and retirement is critical to retention, Carranza said.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
-
Finally, somebody is getting forced out of a job and into an early retirement who actually deserves it!—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaving. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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