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left

left

163 1.0
Toward the side opposite the right or toward more liberal politics
  • adverb
  • /lɛft/
translation icon : a la izquierda
  • "If you want to go left, you must go right."
  • turn left
  • move left

Different types, some sway left, some sway right.

Examples

  • I walk down the long driveway and turn left toward the shopping center.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Alex walked up Chester Street to Brighton Avenue and turned left, hurrying to counteract the cold.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Then he walked to the end of the block and turned left, onto the main street.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • At the top of the track, it seemed to me, he turned left, toward the barn.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Instead, Sarah turned left and went into the back of the house where Maggie slept.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Drive 0.4 miles, then turn left.

  • Carrying our coffees out, we turned left and stepped inside the conference room.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Hobie was silent as they drove past the trailer park and turned left onto the highway.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The rickshaw man turned left on Sastry Street, pedaling a straight line toward MG Road.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • As she reached the corner, she chose to turn left instead of right.

Synonyms

leftwards
vsleft
5.2

Toward more liberal or progressive political ideas

includes both physical direction and broader shifts in opinion not only politics

Antonyms

1.0

Toward the side opposite to left

Idioms

119 3.6

Feeling sad because others do not include you

left for dead
  • Informal
15 8.3

Abandoned without help in a very dangerous situation

Badly damaged or destroyed, like a building after a disaster

Alone without help or someone watching, a person must take care of themselves

Can act without supervision and decide what to do

1 7.9

Leave a place or conversation quietly to avoid attention

from left field
  • Informal
1 8.0

In a way that is not expected

1 9.1

Being the only person who must deal with a problem after others avoid it

A situation with no decision or guidance that leaves people unsure

Words said to show an event has ended so people can leave

8.0

Fail to keep up from the start while others move ahead

left in stitches
  • Informal
7.4

Laughing very hard because something is very funny

8.7

In a situation where you cannot act freely and must accept someone else's decision

your other left
  • Informal
9.9

A joking phrase people say when they mix up left and right

Compounds

149 1.0

The hand on the left side of the body

76 2.1

Something that remains after the rest has been used or eaten

28 6.3

A group in politics with very extreme left-wing views

25 2.7

A thing you use with the left hand

21 3.6

The part of the outfield on the left side in baseball and the player who plays there

19 3.9

People or groups that support more social equality and government help

18 1.0

On the left side of something

14 1.0

Moving a vehicle to the left while driving

stage left
  • Specialized
8 3.9

The part of a stage to the actor's left when facing the audience

8 4.2

A person who supports ideas for more equality and public services

7 3.5

Player who stands in left field in baseball or softball and catches balls

left hemisphere
  • Specialized
6 4.4

The left half of the brain that controls the right side of the body and helps language and logical thinking

5 4.4

Left half of the brain that controls the right body side and helps with language and thinking

Being slightly left in politics and supporting some social change

5 5.5

A baseball pitcher who throws the ball with the left hand

left field
  • Informal
5 7.4

An unexpected, unusual idea or remark that surprises people

left ventricle
  • Specialized
4 3.7

A heart chamber on the left side that pumps blood with oxygen to the body

3 3.5

A person who uses their left hand more than their right, often for writing

A baseball player who throws the ball to batters with the left hand

left turn
  • Literature
2 5.8

Changing policies or views toward more left-wing ideas

2 5.8

An area of Paris on the southern side of the Seine known for artists, writers, and cafes

left atrium
  • Specialized
1 4.5

Upper left part of the heart that gets oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and sends it to the left ventricle

A habit of using the left hand instead of the right for tasks like writing and eating

left coronary artery
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Main artery from the aorta that gives blood to the left side of the heart

1 7.5

A player who mainly uses the left foot to kick the ball

1 7.7

A remark that seems like praise but also insults someone

left gastric artery
  • Specialized
6.8

A blood vessel that carries blood to the inner curve of the stomach and to the lower food pipe

left gastric vein
  • Specialized
6.5

A vein that carries blood from the top of the stomach and lower food tube to the portal vein

5.0

A heart valve with two flaps that lets blood move from the left atrium to the left ventricle without backflow

left stage
  • Jargon
5.5

The part of the stage on an actor's left when facing the audience

A place at a station or airport where people leave bags for a short time

Letters in handwriting that tilt toward the left

loony left
  • Offensive
9.8

A rude name for people on the far left with very strong political ideas

A small blood vessel on the back wall of the left upper heart chamber that drains into the coronary sinus

A vein at the back of the left heart that carries used blood from the muscle to a main vein

How Left

radicalism
14 8.1
far left
28 6.3
left
163 1.0
left-wing
51 3.6
progressive
105 5.1
center
  • US
115 5.1

Surface Forms

left positive

Etymology

Left as an adverb meaning 'to the left' comes from the same old word lyft meaning 'weak' and simply points to the side opposite the right. That's why we can also use left to talk about moving toward more liberal or progressive ideas.