leave
She decided to leave the party early.
She chose to go away from the party before it ended.
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).
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.
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.
Related Phrases
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.