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to leave

to leave

1.6
To cause a feeling or result to remain after an event
  • verb
  • /liːv/
translation icon : 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 let
vsto leave
1.0

Leave something as it is without changing it

includes causing something to remain or producing a lasting mark
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 leave behind
vsto leave
20 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
to leave it be
vsto leave
  • Informal
1 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

Antonyms

1.0

To make something or someone different

1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

Idioms

Is not as good as expected or needed

To go far ahead of someone in speed or success

12 7.9

To abandon someone at the last moment before their wedding

9 4.6

An offer you cannot change that you must accept or refuse

Try every possible way and search everywhere to achieve a goal

Behave in a very foolish way without thinking clearly

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

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

1 8.9

Going away from a place without telling or asking anyone

Make something not completely certain or convincing

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

Do much better than other companies or teams

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

To put aside your pride to work well with others

To let someone else decide what to do next

7.8

To walk out suddenly while showing anger

Make someone laugh a lot so they cannot stop

8.2

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

To leave a place quickly, often as a joke

Phrasal Verbs

2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

604 2.6

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

312 2.3

To not include someone or something

to leave off
  • Informal
104 4.1

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

102 1.4

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

Go away from a place before the usual or expected time

To die and have people or things remain after you

to leave office
  • Literature
53 4.2

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

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

45 6.6

Fail to give someone help or information when they need it

to up and leave
  • Informal
41 6.3

Go away suddenly without warning or explanation

25 2.3

To let something stay switched on or stay where it is

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

to leave a mark
  • Informal
18 3.9

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

To keep a chance open for the future

12 4.4

Not include someone or something in a list

To stop working at a job because you want something different

to take leave
  • Formal
5 3.9

Say goodbye to people and go away from a place politely

to leave off
  • Informal
1 4.5

Stop wearing a piece of clothing, for example a tie

1 6.7

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

to leave it be
  • Informal
1 5.1

To let something stay as it is without changing it

To make someone feel very amazed and full of admiration

1 7.7

To say goodbye and leave politely

Stop discussing a topic and not talk about it more

7.5

To beat others easily by being much faster or better

7.7

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

Compounds

38 3.9

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

30 1.0

The moment when you should leave a place

shore leave
  • Jargon
14 5.6

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

14 2.4

A period away from work because a worker is ill

12 2.7

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

5 3.4

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

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

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

1 3.5

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

leave-taking
  • Formal
1 7.0

To say goodbye in a polite or formal way

1 7.0

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

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

ticket-of-leave
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

A person who is away from military duty without permission

How Much

to preserve
496 3.4
to conserve
63 3.4
to retain
236 3.4
to leave
1.6
to let
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.