left

1 of 3

adjective

ˈleft 

1

a

: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located

her left leg

b

: done with the left hand

a left hook to the jaw

c

: located nearer to the left hand than to the right

a man's left chest

d(1)

: located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified

stage left

the left arm of a chair

(2)

: located on the left when facing downstream

the left bank of a river

2

often Left : of, adhering to, or constituted by the Left (see left entry 2 sense 3a) in politics

… they justify what at the moment is possibly the least Left policy imaginable—lower tax rates for top earners.

—William Watson

… have written an open letter … calling for renewed talks to form a left government.

—Aoife Moore

left adverb

left

2 of 3

noun

plural lefts

1

a

: the left hand

b

: the location or direction of the left side

c

: the part on the left side

d

: a turn to the left

take a left at the intersection

2

a

: left field

b

: a blow struck with the left fist

3

a

Left : political parties and individuals who support or promote liberalism (see liberalism sense 2a) or progressivism

—usually used with the

policies opposed by the Left

b

: the political position of those who support the beliefs and policies of the Left

the country's shift to the left

c

often Left : the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the section of the legislative chamber to the left of the presiding officer as a result of holding more liberal political views than other members

also, usually left : the section of the chamber they occupy

leftmost

ˈleft-ˌmōst 

adjective

left

3 of 3

past tense and past participle of leave

Synonyms

Noun

• left wing
• leftism
• liberalism

Examples of left in a Sentence

Adjective

He felt a pain in his left side.

He hit him with a left hook to the jaw.

the left side of the street

Noun

We read from left to right.

You'll take two lefts and then a right.

He hit him with two quick lefts to the stomach followed by a right to the jaw.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the most flamboyant gesture, a large cascade of lace in watery white oil paint falls from Mariana’s left hand, gently pressed against her velvet dress rather than tightly grasped. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024

Just as a right-handed glove cannot fit a left hand, interactions between molecules often depend on chirality. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

Ezri Konsa resembled a right central defender in a back three, with Diego Carlos stationed between him and Torres, who was on the left. —Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 19 Dec. 2024

Biden’s exit from stage left and Kamala Harris’ subsequent loss yielded a big unknown for where that party goes. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Old English, weak; akin to Middle Low German lucht left; from the left hand's being the weaker in most individuals

First Known Use

Adjective

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing left

• be left to one's own devices
• come out of left field
• far left
• feel left out
• have (got) nothing left to prove
• left a bad taste in my mouth
• left and right
• left-bank
• left brain
• left-click
• left field
• left-hand
• left-handed
• left-hander
• left him at the altar
• left of center
• left, right, and centre
• left shoulder arms
• left to rot in jail/prison
• left wing
• out in left field
• right and left
• right, left, and centre
• stage left
• the far left
• the left
• two left feet

Kids Definition

left

1 of 3 adjective

ˈleft 

1

: of, relating to, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located

the left leg

2

: located nearer to the left side of the body than to the right

the left arm of a chair

left adverb

left

2 of 3 noun

1

: the left side or the part on the left side

2

: the members of a European legislative body sitting to the left of the presiding officer and holding more radical views than other members

3

capitalized : political liberals or radicals

also : their beliefs

left

3 of 3

past and past participle of leave

Medical Definition

left

adjective

ˈleft 

: of, relating to, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located

also : located nearer to this side than to the right