verb

leave

LEEV

verb

To go away from a place or person.

"She left the office at six o'clock."

"He left home at eighteen to study abroad."

To let something remain in place, or to allow it to stay without taking it away.

"Please leave the door open."

"They left the decision up to her."

To give something to someone, especially after death.

"Her grandmother left her the family ring."

noun

Official permission to be absent from work, or the time away itself.

"He took two weeks' leave after the baby was born."

How to Use Leave

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go away, to let something stay as it is, to hand something over, or (as a noun) time off work.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "leave" (to depart or allow to remain) with "let" (to permit) — "leave me alone" and "let me be" overlap but aren't always interchangeable.

Common pairings

leave home leave a message maternity leave take leave leave someone alone

Word Forms

left past tense, leaved past tense, left past tense, leaved past tense, leaved past tense, leave plural, left plural, leaves plural, leaves plural, leaves singular, leave singular, left singular, leavest singular, leaveth singular, leftest singular, leaves singular, leaves singular, leaves singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Please _____ the door open.

Etymology

From Old English lǣfan, "to leave behind," related to an old Germanic root meaning "to remain" or "to stay."

Synonyms

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beat it bug off remove bugger off book bounce buzz off chuck cut one's stick dash depart duck out

Antonyms

kick out remain reside sojourn tarry

Related Words

book die add standard abstract kill friend come

Rhymes for leave

ave save have wave cave nave pave rave fave Dave weave slave

See all rhymes for leave →

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beat it bug off remove bugger off book bounce buzz off chuck cut one's stick dash depart duck out