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to leave

to leave

∞ 1.6
To cause a feeling or result to remain after an event
  • verb
  • /liːv/
: dejar
  • Now we have to figure out a way how to squeeze a lifetime into the time we have left.
  • leave little doubt
  • leave intact
  • leave room for

And before their mom left, she left a note saying trust me.

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Examples

  • Well, believe it or not, this does leave a tint on your lips.

  • I was trying not to leave a mark on your shoulder.

  • You never want to just leave too much in one place.

  • Yeah, if they just leave it and leave it, they might miss out.

  • And I always leave early to leave room for getting lost.

  • I think this is safe to leave here for a few hours.

  • We'll leave it all in the closet in case you change your mind.

  • Now we can't just leave it, can we?

  • And the nice thing that I'm noticing, it leaves a really nice stain.

  • You should leave the door open to let in fresh air.

Synonyms

to allow
vsto leave
∞ 1.0

To let something happen or let someone do something

is narrower in focusing on allowing or causing things to stay unchanged or marked
to leave alone
vsto leave
∞ 2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

focuses more on allowing or causing something to stay unchanged or marked
to let
vsto leave
998 1.0

Leave something as it is without changing it

includes causing something to remain or producing a lasting mark
to leave it be
vsto leave
  • Informal
10 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

is broader and can mean causing something to remain or producing a mark
to leave behind
vsto leave
1 2.1

To not take or change something so it stays where it is

often adds not taking an item when going away versus causing it to remain

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To make something or someone different

∞ 1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

Idioms

23 4.6

An offer you cannot change that you must accept or refuse

Is not as good as expected or needed

14 7.9

To abandon someone at the last moment before their wedding

Try every possible way and search everywhere to achieve a goal

To go far ahead of someone in speed or success

To try as hard as you can during a game or competition

Make something not completely certain or convincing

Not showing all details so people can think about the missing parts

1 8.9

Going away from a place without telling or asking anyone

Make someone laugh a lot so they cannot stop

To leave a place quickly, often as a joke

To let someone else decide what to do next

Behave in a very foolish way without thinking clearly

Do much better than other companies or teams

A warning that bad behavior on a work trip can lead to punishment at work when you return

To be ready to leave a place or situation for the smallest reason

To put aside your pride to work well with others

7.8

To walk out suddenly while showing anger

8.2

To say goodbye in a warm, loving way when you must leave

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

851 2.6

To go away from a place without taking someone or something with you

359 2.3

To not include someone or something

276 2.3

To let something stay switched on or stay where it is

138 1.0

Go away from a place before the usual or expected time

116 1.4

To move out of your parents' house to live by yourself

to leave off
  • Informal
93 4.1

Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book

to leave office
  • Literature
65 4.2

Stop being a leader with official power, for example a government official or company boss

48 6.6

Fail to give someone help or information when they need it

Stop discussing a topic and not talk about it more

To stop talking about an issue and accept it as it is

to up and leave
  • Informal
42 6.3

Go away suddenly without warning or explanation

37 4.4

Not include someone or something in a list

to take leave
  • Formal
30 3.9

Say goodbye to people and go away from a place politely

to leave a mark
  • Informal
26 3.9

To have a lasting effect on a person or thing that people notice

To die and have people or things remain after you

To keep a chance open for the future

to leave it be
  • Informal
10 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

To stop working at a job because you want something different

to leave off
  • Informal
6 4.5

Stop wearing a piece of clothing, for example a tie

3 6.7

To keep worries and problems out of a place so you can focus

To make someone feel very amazed and full of admiration

1 7.7

To say goodbye and leave politely

To not take or change something so it stays where it is

1 7.7

To stop growing crops on a field for a time to let the soil get better

7.5

To beat others easily by being much faster or better

Compounds

39 3.9

A period when someone is officially allowed to be away from work or school

18 2.7

Time away from work to care for family members after a birth, adoption, or when they are ill

16 2.4

A period away from work because a worker is ill

shore leave
  • Jargon
15 5.6

Official permission for sailors to go ashore while their ship is in port

14 1.0

The moment when you should leave a place

Time a father can take off work after a child is born or adopted

5 3.4

Time off work to care for a new child after birth or adoption

A long time away from work for personal, medical, or family reasons

leave-taking
  • Formal
1 7.0

To say goodbye in a polite or formal way

1 3.5

Time away from work given so a worker can deal with a serious family illness or death

1 7.0

A final time away from duty taken before leaving the military while still officially in service

ticket-of-leave
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A permit that lets a prisoner live and work outside prison under rules

A period of paid time away from work to study or travel

A person who is away from military duty without permission

How Much

to preserve
504 3.4
to conserve
73 3.4
to retain
291 3.4
to leave
∞ 1.6
to let
998 1.0

Surface Forms

leave infinitive
leaving present participle
leaves third person singular
left past
left past participle

Etymology

Leave meaning to cause something to remain or to have an effect comes from Old English lǣfan, which meant 'to leave behind' or 'let remain', so to leave an impression is to let a feeling or result stay after an event.