Synonyms of leave

leave 1 of 2

verb

ˈlēv 

1

as in to abandon

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

• abandon
• quit
• desert
• dump
• forsake
• strand
• forget
• ignore
• escape
• vacate
• discard
• relinquish
• ditch
• walk away from
• shed
• fling
• walk out on
• throw away
• scrap
• maroon
• reject
• throw out
• surrender
• deliver
• give up
• withdraw (from)
• cut off
• separate (from)
• renounce
• jettison
• retreat (from)
• sacrifice
• yield
• take off (from)
• hand over
• repudiate
• disregard
• junk
• disown
• neglect
• shuck (off)
• abjure
• distance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• have
• keep
• retain
• hold
• possess
• own
• withhold
• reserve
• reclaim
• save
• redeem
• harbor
• rescue

2

as in to bequeath

to give by means of a will

I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bequeath
• will
• pass (down)
• deed
• devise
• hand on
• hand down

3

as in to quit

to give up (a job or office)

he left his job in the city and moved out into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quit
• abandon
• give notice
• retire (from)
• vacate
• resign (from)
• chuck
• step down (from)
• bag
• step aside (from)
• throw up
• drop out (of)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stay (at)
• hire (out or on)

4

as in to hand

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

• hand
• give
• transfer
• deliver
• pass
• relinquish
• delegate
• recommend
• entrust
• transmit
• commend
• commit
• confide
• trust
• turn over
• grant
• lend
• submit
• hand over
• consign
• loan
• intrust
• vest
• will
• give over
• repose
• assign
• confer
• distribute
• divide
• bequeath
• dispense
• furnish
• deal (out)
• disperse
• surrender
• turn in
• supply
• yield
• release
• hand in
• recommit
• advance
• hand down
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• receive
• possess
• own
• accept
• take
• reserve
• occupy
• detain
• hold back
• take over
• take in

5

as in to dump

to end a usually intimate relationship with

is there ever a good way to leave a lover?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dump
• ditch
• abandon
• cut
• blow off
• break off (with)
• jilt
• kiss off
• kiss good-bye
• forsake
• desert
• slight
• snub
• brush (aside or off)
• cold-shoulder
• quit
• high-hat
• maroon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• hook up (with)
• befriend
• latch (on or onto)

6

as in to let

to give permission to

aw, leave him come

Synonyms & Similar Words

• let
• allow
• permit
• approve
• authorize
• empower
• license
• endorse
• indorse
• liberate
• sanction
• indulge
• commission
• free
• give in (to)
• licence
• cater (to)
• release
• humor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• discourage
• deter
• prevent
• block
• impede
• bar
• inhibit
• curb
• hold back
• obstruct
• constrain
• frustrate

leave

2 of 2

noun

1

as in vacation

a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended

the soldier was on leave for three days before having to report back to base

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vacation
• holiday
• break
• rest
• recess
• hols
• sabbatical
• furlough
• liberty
• relaxation
• breather
• respite
• interim
• legal holiday
• intermission
• interval
• idling
• feast
• loafing
• holy day
• lounging
• slacking

2

as in permission

the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something

the editor gave the reporters leave to follow up on their initial investigation of the senator's fund-raising practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• permission
• authorization
• consent
• granting
• sanction
• allowance
• warrant
• signature
• clearance
• permit
• license
• green light
• licence
• accreditation
• seal
• concurrence
• sufferance
• pass
• stamp
• liberty
• certification
• grant
• okay
• acceptance
• assent
• agreement
• patent
• tolerance
• concession
• imprimatur
• acquiescence
• toleration
• OK
• accord

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusal
• denial
• prohibition
• rejection
• revocation
• injunction
• veto
• exclusion
• suppression
• proscription
• interdiction
• repression
• ban
• deterrence
• taboo
• tabu
• embargo
• discouragement

3

as in departure

the act of leaving a place

the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• departure
• going
• departing
• exiting
• evacuation
• exodus
• exit
• flight
• parting
• withdrawal
• quitting
• farewell
• decamping
• retirement
• leave-taking
• walking out
• retreat
• decampment
• lighting out
• emigration
• outgo
• abandonment
• embarkation
• diaspora
• disembarkation
• forsaking
• running away
• egress
• relinquishment
• embarkment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrival
• appearance
• coming
• approach
• advent
• entrance
• ingress

Examples of leave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Catherine and Stephen are playing things out together, from her first message left on his answering machine to her open-handed message lodged on his left cheek. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024

The actor is set to detail his April 2023 medical emergency, which left him hospitalized and sparked rumors and conspiracy theories on the cause of his health scare. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Noun

This Asian native can form a fairly large tree with smooth, green bark, topped with these tropical-like large leaves. —Sheila Yount, arkansasonline.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Tan Zhuo The actress embraced dark glamour in a full-length sheer black gown adorned with pink and red flowers, along with green and blue leaves and branches. —Maggie Clancy, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024

Phrases Containing leave

• leave off