lease
lees
Lease (noun) means a legal agreement letting someone use property, such as a home or car, for a set time in exchange for payment. Example: “The landlord asked us to renew the lease before the end of summer.”
noun
1
A legal agreement letting someone use property, such as a home or car, for a set time in exchange for payment.
"The landlord asked us to renew the lease before the end of summer."
"Read the lease carefully before you sign anything, because it sets the rules."
"They signed a two-year lease on the apartment."
verb
1
To rent out property as the owner, or to rent property as the tenant.
"My sister plans to lease a van for her new bakery business."
"The company leases office space downtown."
"We decided to lease a car instead of buying one."
How to use lease
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rental agreement for property, or the act of renting it out or taking it on rent.
Common mistake
A lease is a formal, often long-term contract — different from a casual short-term rental.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
sign a lease
lease agreement
lease a car
break a lease
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Word forms
- Plural
- leases
- Third person singular
- leases
- Past tense
- leased
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The landlord asked us to renew the _____ before the end of summer.
Etymology
From Old French lesser/laissier, "to let go" or "to allow," ultimately from Latin laxare, "to loosen" — the same root gives us the English word "lax."
Related words
Rhymes for lease
See all rhymes for lease →Frequently asked questions
What does “lease” mean?
The word “lease” means a legal agreement letting someone use property, such as a home or car, for a set time in exchange for payment. In plain terms, a rental agreement for property, or the act of renting it out or taking it on rent.
How do you pronounce “lease”?
“Lease” is pronounced lees (/liːs/ in IPA).
How do you use “lease” in a sentence?
Here is “lease” used in a sentence: “They signed a two-year lease on the apartment.”
What part of speech is “lease”?
Depending on how it is used, “lease” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lease” come from?
The word “lease” comes from Latin. From Old French lesser/laissier, "to let go" or "to allow," ultimately from Latin laxare, "to loosen" — the same root gives us the English word "lax.".
Is “lease” a common word?
“Lease” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “lease” have?
“Lease” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legal agreement letting someone use property, such as a home or car, for a set time in exchange for payment.
What is the difference between "lease" and "rent"?
A lease is usually a fixed-term legal agreement, often lasting months or years, with terms that stay the same for the whole period. Renting can refer to shorter or more flexible arrangements, such as month-to-month, though the words overlap in everyday use.
Does "lease" mean to rent out or to rent from?
As a verb, "lease" can mean both. The owner leases property out to someone, and the tenant leases it from the owner, so context shows which side is meant.
What is the difference between a "lease" and a "sublease"?
A lease is the original agreement between the property owner and the tenant. A sublease is a further agreement in which that tenant rents the property out to someone else, usually while the original lease is still in force.
What are common collocations with "lease"?
"Lease" often appears in phrases like "sign a lease," "break a lease," "renew a lease," and "a new lease on life." These reflect its meaning as a fixed-term agreement to use property.
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