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to leave

to leave

∞ 1.0
To not take something or someone with you when you go
  • verb
  • /liːv/
: abandonar
  • If you want to leave something behind.
  • leave behind
  • leave alone
  • leave children

And then all of a sudden he left her for that friend.

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Examples

  • But then he realizes that he left his stuffed animal back in the grass somewhere.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After the party, he had to leave his empty bottles behind.

  • Another bedroom again, they just left a lot of stuff behind.

  • So that left me in an awful mess.

  • People lost their union jobs, left behind a polluted property.

  • - I really don't want to leave you.

  • I don't want to be left out of it.

  • Cats, dogs and other companions were left behind to fend for themselves.

  • She decided to leave her old job and pursue her dream career.

  • The hiker left his backpack at the campsite before heading out to explore.

Synonyms

to walk away
vsto leave
876 3.5

Leave a person, place, or situation without taking part anymore

is not always deliberate or emotionally detached, can be accidental
to leave behind
vsto leave
851 2.6

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

is to go away and cause someone or something to remain behind
to abandon
vsto leave
607 3.1

Leave someone or something behind permanently and without care

is to go away either on purpose or by forgetting someone or something
to withdraw
vsto leave
311 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is about leaving physically or by forgetting rather than gradual disengagement
to ditch
vsto leave
  • Informal
248 4.4

To abandon a person, plan, or thing suddenly

is broader, covering leaving both suddenly and by simple oversight
to forsake
vsto leave
81 6.9

To leave someone who needs your help

is to go away in general, not only in moments of need
to skip out
vsto leave
  • Informal
25 7.2

To leave without telling anyone to avoid a duty or responsibility

is more general, including both accidental and intentional leaving
to disassociate
vsto leave
15 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

focuses on leaving someone or something physically or by oversight
to quit
vsto leave
4 1.0

To leave a place and not return

can be temporary or permanent and may happen by forgetting

Antonyms

291 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

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 Intentional

to abandon
607 3.1
to desert
92 4.2
to leave
∞ 1.0
to forget
245 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Etymology

Leave meaning to abandon or forget something comes from Old English lǣfan, which meant 'to let remain'; that is why to leave your phone somewhere is to let it stay there and not take it with you, and the past form left shows the same idea.