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to leave

to leave

546 5.5
To give property or money to someone when you die
  • verb
  • /liːv/
translation icon : dejar en herencia
  • But your dad did leave us with something.
  • leave a legacy
  • died, leaving
  • leave an inheritance

Two of the most interesting things that Caesar has left us today are two questions.

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Examples

  • I mean, he didn't have much to leave me because when he died, there wasn't much of anything.

  • Grandfather left him 20% of the tobacco company.

  • Ultimately her son will show up and they will in fact leave the farm to him.

  • I knew how important it was to him to leave the property to his own blood.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And then I walked into the living room, and I found Lucas' poetry that he left me.

  • Some people will leave some weird stuff in their wills.

  • Shouldn't papa leave something for his children?

  • All of these properties were part of the Texas inheritance left by May Manning.

    Academic text (2011)
  • May's intent was to leave the newly purchased property for development by his Louisiana sibling.

    Academic text (2011)
  • His will states that he will leave all his property to his daughter.

Synonyms

to give
vsto leave
1.0

To hand something to someone, for example a present

is focused on transferring ownership responsibility or knowledge often in inheritance contexts
to pass on
vsto leave
134 2.7

To give something to another person, often information or a message

is mainly used for conveying property knowledge or duties, often after death
to leave behind
vsto leave
56 3.7

To die and have people or things remain after you

is an active transfer of property knowledge or responsibility rather than mere survival
to impart
vsto leave
33 4.3

To teach knowledge or skills to someone

is broader, covering transfer of property and duties as well as knowledge
to bequeath
vsto leave
  • Formal
24 8.9

To leave property or money to someone in your will when you die

is a general transfer of property knowledge or duties not limited to testament
to will
vsto leave
7 5.6

To give property to someone in a legal document after death

is one formal method of assigning property after death rather than general transfer
to demise
vsto leave
  • Formal
1 9.9

To give property to someone by a lease or will

is used especially for conveying property knowledge or duties at or after death

Antonyms

162 3.6

To receive money or property from someone after they die

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 Formal

to bequeath
  • Formal
24 8.9
to endow
  • Formal
18 6.1
to leave
546 5.5
to donate
457 2.7
to give
1.0

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Leave meaning to give property or things to someone (especially after death) comes from Old English lǣfan, which also meant 'to give', so to leave someone your house in a will is to give it to them when you die.