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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | læfan |
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leave1 S1 W1
past tense and past participle left
past tense and past participle left
1 to go away from a place or a person : My baby gets upset when I leave the room. Before leaving the train, make sure you have all your belongings with you. Leave the motorway at Junction 7.
go away
[intransitive and transitive]My baby gets upset when I leave the room.Before leaving the train, make sure you have all your belongings with you.Leave the motorway at Junction 7. leave somebody in peace (=go away from someone so that they can think, work etc alone) Just a few more questions, then we'll leave you in peace.
Just a few more questions, then we'll leave you in peace.2 if you leave your job, home, school etc, you permanently stop doing that job, living at home etc : Over the past two years, 20 staffers have left.
stop
[intransitive and transitive]Over the past two years, 20 staffers have left. leave home/school/college etc How old were you when you left home (=your parents' home)? My daughter got a job after she left school.
How old were you when you left home (=your parents' home)?My daughter got a job after she left school.3
leave somebody/something alone
a) to stop annoying or upsetting someone : Oh, just leave me alone, will you? Leave the boy alone, he can make up his own mind.
Oh, just leave me alone, will you?Leave the boy alone, he can make up his own mind.b) to go away from someone so that they are on their own : Six-year-old Gemma had been left alone in the house.
Six-year-old Gemma had been left alone in the house.c) to stop touching something : Leave that alone. You'll break it.
Leave that alone. You'll break it.d) also leave well (enough) alone to stop being involved in or trying to change a situation : Why can't they just leave well alone and let us concentrate on teaching?
Why can't they just leave well alone and let us concentrate on teaching?4 to make or allow something or someone to stay in a place when you go away
let something/somebody stay
[transitive always + adverb/preposition] leave something/somebody in/with/behind etc Are you leaving the kids with Grandma on Saturday? As soon as I'd shut the door, I realized I'd left the keys inside. Did anybody leave a jacket behind last night?
Are you leaving the kids with Grandma on Saturday?As soon as I'd shut the door, I realized I'd left the keys inside.Did anybody leave a jacket behind last night? leave somebody to do something He left Ruth to find her own way home. Students were left to their own devices (=left alone and allowed to do whatever they wanted) for long periods.
He left Ruth to find her own way home.Students were left to their own devices (=left alone and allowed to do whatever they wanted) for long periods.5 to let something remain in a particular state, position, or condition The trial left many questions unanswered.
not change/move something
[transitive] leave something on/off/out etc You've left your lights on. She must have left the phone off the hook.
You've left your lights on.She must have left the phone off the hook.The trial left many questions unanswered.6 if an event, accident, illness etc leaves you in a particular condition, you are in that condition because of it : An explosion at a chemical plant has left one worker dead and four injured.
result of accident/illness/event
[transitive]An explosion at a chemical plant has left one worker dead and four injured. leave somebody with something Although the infection cleared up, he was left with a persistent cough.
Although the infection cleared up, he was left with a persistent cough. leave somebody doing something The incident left her feeling confused and hurt. The announcement has left shareholders nursing huge losses.
The incident left her feeling confused and hurt.The announcement has left shareholders nursing huge losses.7 if something is left, it remains after everything else has gone, been taken away, or used : I've only got a few dollars left. There were a couple of seats left at the back. We don't have much time left.
be left
also have something leftI've only got a few dollars left.There were a couple of seats left at the back.We don't have much time left. be left over After we've paid the bills, there's never much left over. They ate some bread rolls left over from the night before.
After we've paid the bills, there's never much left over.They ate some bread rolls left over from the night before.8 to deliver a message, note, package etc for someone or put it somewhere so that they will get it later : She left a message on his answerphone.
letter/message/thing
[transitive]She left a message on his answerphone.9 to not do something or to do it later than you intended : Leave the dishes. I'll do them later.
delay
[transitive]Leave the dishes. I'll do them later. leave it at that (=used to say that you will not do any more of something, because you have done enough) Let's leave it at that for today.
Let's leave it at that for today.10 to let someone else decide something or be responsible for something
let somebody decide/be responsible
[transitive] leave it (up) to somebody to do something I'll leave it up to you to decide. She leaves it to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
I'll leave it up to you to decide.She leaves it to the reader to draw their own conclusions. leave something with somebody Leave it with me, I'll fix it for you.
Leave it with me, I'll fix it for you. leave somebody with no choice/option (=force someone to take a particular action) You leave me with no choice but to fire you.
You leave me with no choice but to fire you. leave somebody to do something British English Clive moved to London, leaving Edward to run the Manchester office.
Clive moved to London, leaving Edward to run the Manchester office.11 to stop living with or having a relationship with your husband, partner etc : Martha was always threatening to leave, but I never believed her.
husband/wife etc
[intransitive and transitive]Martha was always threatening to leave, but I never believed her.12
when you die
[transitive]a) to arrange for someone to receive your money, property, etc after you die [= bequeath]: Aunt Alice died, leaving almost $5 million.
Aunt Alice died, leaving almost $5 million. leave somebody something Hugo left me his mother's ring. In his will, he had left all his children a small sum of money.
Hugo left me his mother's ring.In his will, he had left all his children a small sum of money.b) used when someone dies before their wife, children etc : PC Davis leaves a wife and three small children.
leave a wife/children etc
PC Davis leaves a wife and three small children.13 to make a mark that remains afterwards Make sure that you don't leave any footprints.
mark
[transitive]Make sure that you don't leave any footprints.14 if you leave food or drink that you have been given, you do not eat or drink it : 'I'm really hungry now.' 'That's because you left half your lunch.'
not eat/drink
[transitive]'I'm really hungry now.' 'That's because you left half your lunch.'15 to be much better, quicker, more successful etc than someone or something else : In terms of fitness, he discovered that Kate left him standing.
leave somebody/something standing
also leave somebody/something in the dust American English informalIn terms of fitness, he discovered that Kate left him standing.16 to be very unsatisfactory : Inspectors say health and safety procedures at the factory leave a lot to be desired.
leave a lot/something/much to be desired
Inspectors say health and safety procedures at the factory leave a lot to be desired.17 in a sum, to have a particular amount remaining : Three from seven leaves four.
mathematics
[transitive]Three from seven leaves four.18 to not think about or consider one part of something for a time, so that you can consider another part of it : Leaving aside for a moment the question of expense, what would your view be of the suggested changes?
leave something aside/to one side
Leaving aside for a moment the question of expense, what would your view be of the suggested changes?19 to not upset, speak to, or annoy someone or to not touch something
leave somebody/something be
old-fashioned21 used to say that no one should be surprised that someone does something, because it is typical or expected of them : Leave it to you to have the whole day planned out!
leave it to somebody (to do something)
American English spoken informalLeave it to you to have the whole day planned out!22 used humorously to emphasize that something is definitely over or that someone has gone and will not return
Elvis/somebody/something has left the building
especially American English informal➔ somebody can take it or leave it
at take1 (21)➔ be left holding the baby/bag
at hold1 (26)leave somebody/something ↔ behind
phrasal verb1 to not take someone or something with you when you leave a place : I think I might have left my wallet behind. He departed for Washington, leaving the children behind with their mother.
I think I might have left my wallet behind.He departed for Washington, leaving the children behind with their mother.2 if a person, country, or organization is left behind, they do not develop as quickly or make as much progress as other people, countries etc : In class, a child with poor eyesight can soon get left behind. a fear of being left behind by better-organized rivals
In class, a child with poor eyesight can soon get left behind.a fear of being left behind by better-organized rivals3 also leave somebody/something behind you to permanently stop being involved with a place, person, or situation : Although Armstrong overcame the circumstances of his birth, he never really left New Orleans behind.
Although Armstrong overcame the circumstances of his birth, he never really left New Orleans behind.4 also leave somebody/something behind you to move away from someone or something : They had left the city behind and were heading into open country.
They had left the city behind and were heading into open country.5 also leave something behind you to produce a thing or situation that remains after you have gone : He drove off, leaving behind him a trail of blue smoke. the mess the previous government left behind
He drove off, leaving behind him a trail of blue smoke.the mess the previous government left behindleave off
phrasal verb1 to stop doing something
take up/pick up/continue (something) etc where somebody left off (=continue something that has stopped for a short time) Barry took up the story where Justine had left off.
Barry took up the story where Justine had left off.2 to not include something such as someone's name in a list or other document : Why was her name left off the list?
leave somebody/something off (something)
Why was her name left off the list?leave somebody/something ↔ out
phrasal verb1 to not include someone or something : She outlined the case to him, being careful not to leave anything out.
She outlined the case to him, being careful not to leave anything out.2 to feel that you are not accepted or welcome in a situation : New fathers often feel left out when baby arrives.
be/feel left out
New fathers often feel left out when baby arrives.3 used to tell someone to stop lying, pretending, or being annoying
leave it out!
British English spokenWORD FOCUS: give WORD FOCUS: give
put something in someone's hand: hand, pass
officially give something to someone: award, present, grant, confer, allocate
give something to people in a group: hand out, pass around, distribute
give to a charity: donate
give something to people after you die: leave, pass on, bequeath
➔ See also give
WORD FOCUS: give put something in someone's hand: hand, pass
officially give something to someone: award, present, grant, confer, allocate
give something to people in a group: hand out, pass around, distribute
give to a charity: donate
give something to people after you die: leave, pass on, bequeath
➔ See also give
