📒 to go away from a person or a place
- Come on, it's time we left (= time for us to leave).
- She left without saying goodbye.
- leave for something The plane leaves for Dallas at 12.35.
📒 to stop living at a place, belonging to a group, working for an employer, etc.
- My assistant is threatening to leave.
- leave something He didn't leave home until he was 30.
- (British English) She left school at 16.
📒 to leave your wife, husband or partner permanently
- I was afraid you'd leave if you knew the truth.
- leave somebody I'll never leave you.
- leave somebody for somebody She left him for a colleague.
📒 to go away from a place without taking something/somebody with you
- leave something/somebody I'll have to go back—I've left my jacket.
- They left the children and went out for the evening.
- leave something/somebody + adv./prep. I've left my bag on the bus.
📒 to make or allow somebody/something to remain in a particular condition, place, etc.
- leave somebody/something + adj. Leave the door open, please.
- The bomb blast left 25 people dead.
- His help left her free to focus on her research.
📒 to remain to be used, sold, etc.
- Is there any coffee left?
- He's spent all the money—there's nothing left.
- You still have a few minutes left.
📒 to make something happen or remain as a result
- leave something Red wine leaves a stain.
- The Romans left their mark on Britain.
- Leave room on the spreadsheet to add the results later.
📒 to deliver, write or record something to be seen or heard later
- leave something Lots of people had left comments under the post.
- Someone called, but they didn't leave a message.
- leave something for somebody Someone left this note for you.
📒 to not do something or deal with something immediately
- leave something Leave the dishes—I'll do them later.
- leave something until/till something Why do you always leave everything until the last moment?
- leave something for something Let's leave that topic for another day.
📒 to allow somebody to take care of something
- leave something to somebody/something You can leave the cooking to me.
- They didn't leave anything to chance (= everything was planned carefully).
- leave it (up) to somebody (to do something) ‘Where shall we eat?’ ‘I’ll leave it entirely (up) to you (= you can decide).’
📒 to give something to somebody when you die
- leave something He left a large estate.
- leave something to somebody She left £1 million to her daughter.
- leave somebody something She left her daughter £1 million.
📒 to have family who continue to live after your death
- He leaves a wife and two children.
📒 to have a particular amount left over
- Seven from ten leaves three.
📒 to be alone
- I didn’t know anyone in New York, so I was left to myself to explore.
📒 to be allowed to do what you want
- Left to himself, the dog will eat anything and everything.
📒 used to say that you do not care if somebody accepts or rejects your offer
📒 used to say that somebody does not have a strong opinion about something
- Dancing? I can take it or leave it.
📒 to stop annoying somebody or trying to get their attention
- Why can’t you stop texting me and just leave me be?
📒 to stop holding on to something
- Leave go of my arm—you're hurting me!
📒 to say or do nothing more about something
- We'll never agree, so let's just leave it at that.
📒 used to tell somebody to stop doing something