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

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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
All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams was ruled out 90 minutes before the game after suffering a hamstring injury early in the win over Chicago. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 4 Jan. 2026 Her father, Jorge Antonio Rodríguez, was a prominent figure on the Venezuelan radical left in the 1960s and 1970s and the founder of a Marxist party. Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026 On the left, Presidents Gabriel Boric of Chile, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico expressed deep concerns. Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026 The door on the left leads up to two massive duplexes, stacked on top of each other, which each stretch the width and length of the building — 25-by-52 feet — giving the units about as much square footage as a small townhouse. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for left
Recent Examples of Synonyms for left
Noun
  • This, together with the fragmented working class and weak community roots of Lindsay’s liberalism, left the city unable to fight the wave of neoliberal austerity measures that faced the city.
    Daniel Wortel-London, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Likewise, should Madisonian liberalism regain its footing, the assumptions political scientists have relied on for so long will once again appear to many as eternal truths.
    Jason Blakely, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Throughout the history of gold panning, workers had never been abandoned in remote or forgotten areas of the jungle.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The buildings were abandoned as the public school system grew more welcoming of Black students, and many of the sites have been lost, historians say.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Leon's children filed a civil lawsuit in the Clark County Circuit Court in 2024 claiming that Jamey took money that was bequeathed to them after their father's death in 2018.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Placer County, which estimates that 16,000 residents could lose health care coverage by 2028, quit operating its own clinics nearly a decade ago.
    KFF Health News, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
  • After quitting acting, Kibrick attended the University of Southern California and worked in real estate development.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In a preseason contest against Arizona, though, Webb was handed the play-calling reins and widely impressed in a 27-7 win.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Over the last few years, HBO has handed Maher a two season deal each time, the last one in 2024.
    Peter White, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • On June 15, the Red Sox dumped Devers and the remainder of his contract on the San Francisco Giants.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Less than two minutes later, on a fast break, Jalen Douglas faked a shot, then dumped the ball down low to Sims, who scored on a layup.
    Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Farina was granted primary custody of Sophia and will be allowed to move from Louisiana to Las Vegas with the child, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Herro’s return and move to the bench allowed the Heat to use him in Jaquez’s usual sixth man role on Tuesday.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • While scanning the shoreline, the helicopter crew discovered a man who matched the missing surfer's description and was stranded on rocks outside of Surfer's Beach.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • My phone was my lifeline when I was stranded in paradise and acted as my connection to work, online travel booking platforms, my kids’ school district, and my family located elsewhere in the hotel, as well as back at home.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Left.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/left. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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