Home / Dictionary / Leave

Leave Very Common

Leave has 24 different meanings across 2 categories:

Noun · Verb

Definitions
Noun
1

the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty

"a ten day's leave to visit his mother"

2

permission to do something

"she was granted leave to speak"

3

the act of departing politely

"he disliked long farewells"

"he took his leave"

"parting is such sweet sorrow"

4

The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball.

"After her doctor's appointment, Sarah asked for a thirty-minute leave during lunch break."

5

Permission to be absent; time away from one's work.

In plain English: Leave is time off from work or school that you get to go somewhere else or do something fun.

"I want to leave for a short break before we start the meeting."

Usage: Use "leave" as a noun when referring to authorized time off from work or duty, such as asking for annual leave. Always capitalize it only if it begins a sentence or appears in a title, otherwise keep it lowercase.

Verb
1

go away from a place

"At what time does your train leave?"

"She didn't leave until midnight"

"The ship leaves at midnight"

2

go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness

"She left a mess when she moved out"

"His good luck finally left him"

"her husband left her after 20 years of marriage"

"she wept thinking she had been left behind"

3

act or be so as to become in a specified state

"The inflation left them penniless"

"The president's remarks left us speechless"

4

leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking

"leave it as is"

"leave the young fawn alone"

"leave the flowers that you see in the park behind"

5

move out of or depart from

"leave the room"

"the fugitive has left the country"

6

make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain

"This leaves no room for improvement"

"The evidence allows only one conclusion"

"allow for mistakes"

"leave lots of time for the trip"

"This procedure provides for lots of leeway"

7

produce as a result or residue

"The water left a mark on the silk dress"

"Her blood left a stain on the napkin"

8

remove oneself from an association with or participation in

"She wants to leave"

"The teenager left home"

"She left her position with the Red Cross"

"He left the Senate after two terms"

"after 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes"

9

put into the care or protection of someone

"He left the decision to his deputy"

"leave your child in the nurse's care"

10

leave or give by will after one's death

"My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry"

"My grandfather left me his entire estate"

11

have left or have as a remainder

"That left the four of us"

"19 minus 8 leaves 11"

12

be survived by after one's death

"He left six children"

"At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats"

13

transmit (knowledge or skills)

"give a secret to the Russians"

"leave your name and address here"

"impart a new skill to the students"

14

leave behind unintentionally

"I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant"

"I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors"

15

To have a consequence or remnant.

"The committee voted to leave a fine on anyone caught littering in the park."

16

To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.

17

To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant.

18

To produce leaves or foliage.

19

To raise; to levy.

In plain English: To leave means to go away from a place or person.

"I need to leave for work at seven o'clock."

Usage: The everyday meaning of leave is to go away from a place or person, not to raise or levy. Use this word when you are departing somewhere or allowing someone to remain in their current position.

Example Sentences
"I want to leave for a short break before we start the meeting." noun
"I need to leave for work at seven o'clock." verb
"I will leave my keys on the table so I don't forget them later." verb
"She decided to leave work early because she felt unwell today." verb
"Please do not leave your wet umbrella in the hallway or it might drip on everyone." verb
Related Terms
go going depart go away exit going away action congee shoot through like bondi tram discorporate disappearing act egress walk away from batsman evacuate nick off set off leaver handshake sabbatical
Antonyms
get come in disown
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
time off permission departure make refrain move yield produce change pass give have tell lose
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
furlough pass compassionate leave sabbatical shore leave sick leave terminal leave valediction go out desert depart pop off walk off walk out come away decamp scram run off ride off tarry pull out rush off scat slip away vacate jilt abandon let go pop out file out hop out fall out get off step out eject undock log out lead leave office drop out devise pass on remember fee-tail widow convey

Origin

The word "leave" comes from the Old English lǣfan, which originally meant "to let stay." It traveled into Middle English as leven before settling into its current form.

Rhyming Words
ave aave rave mave fave gave eave dave wave pave save nave bave cave have lave drave knave soave quave
Compare
Leave vs