left 1 of 2

Definition of leftnext
as in liberalism
a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

left

2 of 2

verb

past tense of leave
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2
as in bequeathed
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 quit
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
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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 left
Noun
When the picture on the far left was made, the fabulous George Herman Ruth, an orphan, was making $80,000 a year knocking home runs for the New York Yankees. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026 During the second game of the tie this weekend, the pair even went as far as switching sides to put Waters on the left, and still the play went primarily through Khlif, who continues to look tentative and error prone. Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 The progressive left wants deep and structural overhaul of the economy and society. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 Tongue presses can perform a left-click or click-and-drag, while a sip gesture can trigger a right-click. Jesse Watson , Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for left
Recent Examples of Synonyms for left
Noun
  • But, outside of cosmopolitan sections of Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Haifa, the liberalism that fuelled his humor couldn’t be taken for granted.
    Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Right’s multiculturalism Meanwhile, the American right was increasingly united less by biological notions of race and more by opposition to multiculturalism, feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and liberalism.
    Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • With that said, Jonas Vingegaard’s crash at this year’s Tour shows how quickly races can change — while the two favorites at last year’s Giro d’Italia, Roglič and Juan Ayuso, both abandoned with injuries.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In the present-day timeline, this reveal casts a large shadow over adult Shauna (Melanie Lynskey), who’s abandoned by husband Jeff (Warren Cole) and daughter Callie (Sarah Desjardins).
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • More than a century after a rare painting, recently attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was bequeathed to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in 1920, the painting, Portrait of an Old Man, will go on display on December 2, per reports.
    News Desk, Artforum, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Youthful ambition bequeathed them unpredictably shifting time signatures, a daunting nylon-string intro, some odd musical shifts during the guitar-solo section, and a long list of other complexities.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Some children are quitting school and starting to work to help their families make ends meet.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • In the 1980s, Hal quit being a Green Lantern, with John Stewart finally taking over.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In a rare judicial win in such cases, the client was handed 18 months in prison.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • On Wednesday, according to the complaint, the operatives handed Bowie a gun, ammunition and an inert explosive, then gave her instructions on how to use them.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The concern is that I would get emotionally involved with this girl too soon after being dumped.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Real people went outside and dumped buckets of ice on their heads, ostensibly to spread awareness of a neurodegenerative disease.
    Matt Carlstrom, Vanity Fair, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • He has also been allowed weekly meetings with his wife, as well as telephone and WhatsApp contact with relatives in Pakistan and abroad, the ministry said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The remaining capital can be returned to shareholders or allowed to earn a government-security yield until a more attractive opportunity arises.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cox disputed claims Wells was left stranded when his clients, Warren Hudson, 19; Jax Pitalo, 20; and Morgan Seymour, 19, left the area.
    Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Jakob Junis came in to pitch and struck out José Tena on three pitches to end the inning and leave the runners stranded.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Left.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/left. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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