Synonyms of leave

leave 1 of 2

verb

ˈlēv 

1

as in to abandon

to cause to remain behind

you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside

starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandon
• quit
• desert
• dump
• forsake
• strand
• forget
• ignore
• escape
• vacate
• discard
• relinquish
• ditch
• walk away from
• shed
• fling
• walk out on
• throw away
• scrap
• maroon
• reject
• throw out
• surrender
• deliver
• give up
• withdraw (from)
• cut off
• separate (from)
• renounce
• jettison
• retreat (from)
• sacrifice
• yield
• take off (from)
• hand over
• repudiate
• disregard
• junk
• disown
• neglect
• shuck (off)
• abjure
• distance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• have
• keep
• retain
• hold
• possess
• own
• withhold
• reserve
• reclaim
• save
• redeem
• harbor
• rescue

2

as in to bequeath

to give by means of a will

I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bequeath
• will
• pass (down)
• deed
• devise
• hand on
• hand down

3

as in to quit

to give up (a job or office)

he left his job in the city and moved out into the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quit
• abandon
• give notice
• retire (from)
• vacate
• resign (from)
• chuck
• step down (from)
• bag
• step aside (from)
• throw up
• drop out (of)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stay (at)
• hire (out or on)

4

as in to hand

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hand
• give
• transfer
• deliver
• pass
• relinquish
• delegate
• recommend
• entrust
• transmit
• commend
• commit
• confide
• trust
• turn over
• grant
• lend
• submit
• hand over
• consign
• loan
• intrust
• vest
• will
• give over
• repose
• assign
• confer
• distribute
• divide
• bequeath
• dispense
• furnish
• deal (out)
• disperse
• surrender
• turn in
• supply
• yield
• release
• hand in
• recommit
• advance
• hand down
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• receive
• possess
• own
• accept
• take
• reserve
• occupy
• detain
• hold back
• take over
• take in

5

as in to dump

to end a usually intimate relationship with

is there ever a good way to leave a lover?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dump
• ditch
• abandon
• cut
• blow off
• break off (with)
• jilt
• kiss off
• kiss good-bye
• forsake
• desert
• slight
• snub
• brush (aside or off)
• cold-shoulder
• quit
• high-hat
• maroon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• hook up (with)
• befriend
• latch (on or onto)

6

as in to let

to give permission to

aw, leave him come

Synonyms & Similar Words

• let
• allow
• permit
• approve
• authorize
• empower
• license
• endorse
• indorse
• liberate
• sanction
• indulge
• commission
• free
• give in (to)
• licence
• cater (to)
• release
• humor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prohibit
• forbid
• enjoin
• discourage
• deter
• prevent
• block
• impede
• bar
• inhibit
• curb
• hold back
• obstruct
• constrain
• frustrate

leave

2 of 2

noun

1

as in vacation

a period during which the usual routine of school or work is suspended

the soldier was on leave for three days before having to report back to base

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vacation
• holiday
• break
• rest
• recess
• hols
• sabbatical
• furlough
• liberty
• relaxation
• breather
• respite
• interim
• legal holiday
• intermission
• interval
• idling
• feast
• loafing
• holy day
• lounging
• slacking

2

as in permission

the approval by someone in authority for the doing of something

the editor gave the reporters leave to follow up on their initial investigation of the senator's fund-raising practices

Synonyms & Similar Words

• permission
• authorization
• consent
• granting
• sanction
• allowance
• warrant
• signature
• clearance
• permit
• license
• green light
• licence
• accreditation
• seal
• concurrence
• sufferance
• pass
• stamp
• liberty
• certification
• grant
• okay
• acceptance
• assent
• agreement
• patent
• tolerance
• concession
• imprimatur
• acquiescence
• toleration
• OK
• accord

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refusal
• denial
• prohibition
• rejection
• revocation
• injunction
• veto
• exclusion
• suppression
• proscription
• interdiction
• repression
• ban
• deterrence
• taboo
• tabu
• embargo
• discouragement

3

as in departure

the act of leaving a place

the party was clearly dying down, and it was time to take our leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• departure
• going
• departing
• exiting
• evacuation
• exodus
• exit
• flight
• parting
• withdrawal
• quitting
• farewell
• decamping
• retirement
• leave-taking
• walking out
• retreat
• decampment
• lighting out
• emigration
• outgo
• abandonment
• embarkation
• diaspora
• disembarkation
• forsaking
• running away
• egress
• relinquishment
• embarkment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• arrival
• appearance
• coming
• approach
• advent
• entrance
• ingress

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of leave

Verb

Members of the figure skating community have spoken out after an American Airlines flight tragically collided with an Army helicopter late Wednesday night in Washington, D.C., leaving all 67 on board both aircraft presumably dead. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 30 Jan. 2025

The charges were filed two days after the shooting, which occurred about 1:15 p.m. at the 401 Summit St. restaurant and left a man seriously injured. —Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025

Noun

Similar revisions are taking shape across the country as companies have reversed their DEI policies and the Trump administration has placed employees working on DEI initiatives on leave. —Lisa Song, ProPublica, 30 Jan. 2025

His recent executive order has revoked multiple long-standing diversity programs, shut down DEI offices and placed many DEI employees on leave. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Jan. 2025

Phrases Containing leave

• leave off