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leave

/liːv/
verb★Beginner— to go away from a place
informal

to go away from a place or person

He left his hometown to find a job.

He went away from his hometown to look for work.

💡

Can be used intransitively (without an object) or transitively (with an object).

formal

to allow someone or something to remain in a particular state

Please leave the door open.

Please allow the door to remain open.

💡

Often used in instructions or requests.

formal

to depart from a place, especially permanently or for a significant period

She left her job to start her own business.

She departed from her job to begin her own company.

💡

Can imply a significant change or transition.

Collocations

leave behindto forget or abandon something or someoneleave aloneto stop bothering or disturbing someone or somethingleave outto exclude or omit something

Synonyms

departexitquitabandonforsake

Antonyms

stayremainarriveenter

Related Phrases

leave it at thatphrase
to stop discussing a topic further
leave no stone unturnedidiom
to make every possible effort
leave well enough aloneproverb
to avoid making unnecessary changes

💡Pro Tip

Common Mistakes

Remember that the past tense of 'leave' is 'left', not 'leaved'.

⚡Gold Rule

Transitive vs. Intransitive

'Leave' can be used both with and without an object. For example, 'She left' (intransitive) and 'She left her keys' (transitive).

📖Word Origin

Old English 'læfan', from Proto-Germanic 'laibijaną', meaning 'to allow to remain'. Related to Old High German 'leib' (body) and Old Norse 'leifa' (to allow).

📝Usage Notes

The past tense and past participle of 'leave' is 'left'. The verb can be both transitive and intransitive.

Word Breakdown

leave
to go away or allow to remain
root
English Dictionary

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