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to leave

to leave

1.0
To not take something or someone with you when you go
  • verb
  • /liːv/
translation icon : 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 abandon
vsto leave
773 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 walk away
vsto leave
632 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
604 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 withdraw
vsto leave
466 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
234 4.4

To abandon a person, plan, or thing suddenly

is broader, covering leaving both suddenly and by simple oversight
to forsake
vsto leave
38 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
22 7.2

To leave without telling anyone to avoid a duty or responsibility

is more general, including both accidental and intentional leaving
to quit
vsto leave
22 1.0

To leave a place and not return

can be temporary or permanent and may happen by forgetting
to disassociate
vsto leave
16 7.0

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

focuses on leaving someone or something physically or by oversight

Antonyms

236 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

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 Intentional

to abandon
773 3.1
to desert
219 4.2
to leave
1.0
to forget
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.