lease 1 of 2

lease

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verb

1
as in to rent
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the landlord was willing to lease the apartment for less than we had expected

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum I couldn't afford to buy a car outright, so I decided to lease one instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lease different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lease are charter, hire, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When would charter be a good substitute for lease?

In some situations, the words charter and lease are roughly equivalent. However, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of lease?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can rent take the place of lease?

Although the words rent and lease have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lease
Noun
Meiner’s effort to terminate O Cinema’s lease drew a wave of backlash, including an open letter from hundreds of filmmakers and statements from local artists and advocates expressing their support for the theater. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025 According to a report by The Associated Press, an agency spokesperson said earlier in March that most of the leases not being renewed are for spaces used for in-person hearings, which are no longer necessary due to the majority of them now being held online. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
TechCrunch will move into new offices In San Francisco and New York leased by Regent, Loizos said. Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Mar. 2025 It was also used by the space shuttle before it was leased by SpaceX for Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and future Starship launches. Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
Noun
  • The city of Los Angeles has cleared the way for three Pacific Palisades homeowners to begin rebuilding on their properties.
    Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Committee member Kendall Kendrick, executive director of the Charlotte Trail of History, is a descendant of the Sample family that also previously owned the Latta property.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • After the ruling, the Barnetts rented an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana and, according to court documents, left Natalia there to fend for herself.
    Fortesa Latifi, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Morena Baccarin plays Inara Serra, a licensed Companion (a high-status courtesan) who rents one of Serenity’s shuttles as her private quarters and place of business.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Maryland will hire a new athletic director, and that person will have the chance to decide what kind of department the state’s flagship university should have.
    Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
  • When testing someone, Ari stays in frequent communication with the person who hired her.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Pelvic floor exercises should also be undertaken by all women post-pregnancy to help support the womb and prevent urinary tract issues.
    Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Shortness of breath Summary A mild urinary tract infection can sometimes go away on its own without antibiotics.
    Cordelia Nwankwo, Verywell Health, 24 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The 23-year-old tends to play off the left side more than Gibbs-White or Cherki, but his development over the last two seasons suggests this could be a good time for a club like Manchester City to make a move.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The roundtable on the week's most surprising developments.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on lease

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