From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishleaveleave1 /liːv/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense and past participle left /left/) 1 go away [intransitive, transitive]LEAVE A PLACE 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.leave at The plane leaves at 12.30.leave for I tried calling him, but he’d already left for work.leave (something/somebody) soon/now/later etc If he left immediately, he’d catch the 7.30 train.leave (something/somebody) to do something Frances left work early to meet her mother.leave somebody doing something Never leave children playing near water unattended.leave somebody to something I’ll leave you to it (=go away and let you continue with what you are doing). My youngest boy has not left my side (=has stayed near me) since his daddy was killed.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.2 stop [intransitive, transitive] 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.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. The lawsuit will be postponed until the president leaves office.leave a job/country/Spain etc Many missionaries were forced to leave the country. It seems that Tony has left the band for good (=permanently).leave (somebody/something) to do something Laura left her native England to live in France.3 → leave somebody/something alone4 let something/somebody stay [transitive always + adverb/preposition]REMAIN/BE LEFT to make or allow something or someone to stay in a place when you go awayleave 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? She left her son in the care of a friend.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.leave somebody for dead The girl had been attacked and left for dead.5 not change/move something [transitive]ARRANGE A GROUP OF THINGS OR PEOPLE to let something remain in a particular state, position, or conditionleave something on/off/out etc You’ve left your lights on. She must have left the phone off the hook.leave something open/empty/untidy etc I wish you’d stop leaving the door open. The trial left many questions unanswered.leave a space/gap etc Leave the next two lines blank for the tutor’s comments. Drivers should always leave room for cyclists.leave something doing something I’ll just leave the engine running while I go in. Don’t leave tools lying about.leave something to do something Leave the pots to soak overnight.6 result of accident/illness/event [transitive]CAUSE 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.leave somebody with something 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. 7 → be left8 letter/message/thing [transitive]PUT 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.leave somebody something Can you leave me some money for the bus?leave something with somebody Ian left this note with me.leave something for somebody A guy left these flowers for you.9 delay [transitive]NOT DO something to not do something or to do it later than you intended Leave the dishes. I’ll do them later. So much had been left undone.leave something until the last minute/until last If you leave your preparation until the last minute, you’ll reduce your chances of passing. I left the best bit until last. I want to think about it. Can I leave it for now? I’m afraid you’ve left it too late to change your ticket.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.10 let somebody decide/be responsible [transitive]RESPONSIBLE to let someone else decide something or be responsible for somethingleave something to somebody Leave it to me. I’ll make sure it gets posted. The choice of specialist subject is left entirely to the students.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.leave doing something to somebody Is it okay if I leave writing the results to you?leave something with somebody Leave it with me, I’ll fix it for you. He’s not the sort to leave things to chance (=take no action and just wait to see what happens).leave somebody with no choice/option (=force someone to take a particular action) 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.11 husband/wife etc [intransitive, transitive] to stop living with or having a relationship with your husband, partner etc Martha was always threatening to leave, but I never believed her.leave somebody for somebody Mr Rushworth left his partner of 10 years for a younger woman.12 when you die [transitive] a) to arrange for someone to receive your money, property etc after you die SYN bequeath 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.leave something to somebody/something Have you thought of leaving a gift to charity after you die? b) leave a wife/children etc used when someone dies before their wife, children etc PC Davis leaves a wife and three small children.► see thesaurus at give 13 mark [transitive] to make a mark that remains afterwardsleave a mark/stain/scar etc The wine had left a permanent mark on the tablecloth. He staggered to the door, leaving a trail of blood. Make sure that you don’t leave any footprints.14 not eat/drink [transitive]EATDRINK 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.’ He rose from the table, leaving his brandy untouched.15 → leave somebody/something standing16 → leave a lot/something/much to be desired17 mathematics [transitive] in a sum, to have a particular amount remaining Three from seven leaves four.18 → leave something aside/to one side19 → leave somebody/something be20 → leave go/hold of something21 → leave it to somebody (to do something)22 → Elvis/somebody/something has left the building → somebody can take it or leave it at take1(21), → be left holding the baby/bag at hold1(26)THESAURUSto leave a placeleaveJust as I was leaving the house, the phone rang.We left early to avoid the traffic.go especially spoken to leave somewhereCome on, boys, it’s time to go.When does the next bus go?set off especially British English to leave somewhere and begin a journeyThe following day we set off for Vienna.take off if a plane takes off, it leaves the ground at the beginning of a flightOur plane took off late because of the fog.emigrate to leave your own country in order to live permanently in another countryIn 2002, his family emigrated to New Zealand.depart formal to leave – used especially about trains, buses, planes etcCoaches depart for the airport every 30 minutes.to leave school/college etcleave especially British English to finish studying at school or college, usually at the age or time when people normally finishWhen James left school, he worked for a while with his father.She found it hard to get a job after leaving university.graduate to successfully finish your studies at a college or university, or at an American high schoolKelly graduated from Harvard with a degree in East Asian Studies.Approximately 80% of Americans graduate from high school.drop out to leave school, college, or university before your course of study has finished, because you do not want to continue with itI failed my first year exams and decided to drop out and get a job.quit American English to leave school without finishing your course of studyHe quit school at fourteen to work and help support his family.leave your jobleaveI left my last job because the salary was so low.Why don’t you just leave?quit to leave your job permanently because you are not happy with itAfter enduring months of harassment, Mrs Collins decided to quit her job.I’ve told them I’m quitting.resign to officially announce that you have decided to leave your jobThe company director was forced to resign over the scandal.hand in your notice/resignation to write an official letter to your employer saying that you are going to leave your job on a particular dateYou have to hand in your notice at least four weeks before you leave.retire to leave your job in order to stop working permanently, usually because you have reached the age when most people stop workingAfter forty years of working for the bank, Karl retired in May.He had to retire because of ill health. → leave somebody/something ↔ behind → leave off → leave somebody/something ↔ out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
leave• He left £1000 to each of the nurses who had looked after him.• I hated school and couldn't wait to leave.• Church officials are concerned about all the people who have left.• Collins leaves a wife and three children.• Small wonder, then, that heart disease kills a quarter of us and leaves another third chronically disabled.• Brian's parents talked him out of leaving college.• I have to leave early tomorrow morning to fly to Detroit.• Always leave enough fuel for the next person to build a fire with.• What legacy are we leaving for future generations?• I'm leaving for Paris on Tuesday.• He offered me four grand, all he had left from the game, and I took it.• Coaches leave from Victoria every hour.• I'm surprised that Kent left her.• He left his hometown when he was 16, and he hasn't been back there since.• I left home when I was 14.• Her plane leaves Hong Kong at 10.00.• I can't find my coat - I must have left it at work.• "Where's Marcia?" "Oh, she left last week to have her baby."• It leaves less to the discretion of the court and has decided on a maximum sentence of just five years.• It seemed unbelievable that they would stand aside and let them leave like this.• It had not left much time to arrange for a reception committee.• I'm sure I left my bag somewhere around here.• I was glad we had not gone away as my uncles had and left Omite alone.• Cut the fillets into serving pieces but leave steaks whole.• Hand back the identity card when you leave the building.• After 30 years, Paige is leaving the company.• Chamberlain was a Cabinet Minister until he left the Liberal party in 1886.• After leaving the Navy, he started a new career in journalism.leave for• We're leaving for Tokyo next week.leave home/school/college etc• And all this meant that I couldn't wait to leave home.• At the time of the research, children could generally find employment in the area without leaving home.• Her father gave up shooting quite suddenly, after Frank left home.• Senior power forward Tony Moore became academically ineligible, then left school.• Some police agencies lock anklets on criminal suspects, convicts and parolees that set off an alarm if the person leaves home.• What is done here with and for high school students will make a difference in who they are when they leave school.• Ever since leaving college, Susan has lived for publishing and worshiped Simon.• Before you leave school to go on Work Experience you will be told which teacher to contact if you have any problems.left ... in the care of• I left her in the care of Nettie and Inge.• I could not stay, but left her in the care of the doctor and several nurses, and returned to London.leave a space/gap etc• That means you have to leave space.• It is important to leave a gap between the water surface and the drip tray to allow this.• It's hard to see how to begin with enough reality to generate action while leaving space for genuine doubt.• Of course the importance of a high quality of case recording is clearly recognised but a rushed volunteer might leave gaps in case recording.• At the time Cook was concentrating on smaller, more select parties which left a gap in the market for larger tours.• Since most tables are also used for dumping, leave space so that the arrangements aren't continually being disturbed.• It could not properly be interpreted as leaving a gap where that unusual situation arose.• Any of the text can be changed, but don't forget to leave spaces wherever they will be needed.leave somebody something• If I'm not home, you can leave me a message.• Uncle Gene left us his house.• Why didn't you leave me any bread?left undone• But this justifiable pleasure does not disguise the fact that much was left undone.• Now knights no longer come everyday, and the good deeds are left undone.• Our coverage begins with the biggest thing he did, then turns to the biggest thing he left undone.• Somebody is always dissatisfied or something is always left undone.• They remain friends, though she is quick to be petulant over telephone messages left unanswered and favours left undone.• Nothing is left undone, nothing left to chance.• These criticisms, which focus on what has been left undone rather than on what has been done, are inevitably inconclusive.• We have left undone those things which we ought to have done.leave something to somebody• I've always left financial decisions to my wife.leave somebody for somebody• Jan's husband left her for another woman.leave a mark/stain/scar etc• A new way of helping students leave a mark.• For the first time since I had to leave home, this is a place that will leave a scar.• The disturbing images, however, have left a mark.• Velvet Pin as little as possible as pins tend to leave marks.• Even the gradual assimilation of his disappointment would leave scars and blights, like a landscape after fire.• And worse, something which will leave a stain on me.• Stagflation and the threat of deeper world recession has left marks upon the consciousness of the workers.leaving ... untouched• He placed his unfinished cigar in the ash tray and rose from the table, leaving his brandy untouched.• Irradiation would make things worse by destroying the warning spoilage bacteria and leaving pathogens untouched.• They zero in on dopamine while leaving other neurotransmitters untouched.• Zali sniffed at the food, looked at me and lay down, leaving it untouched.• Trim any excess fat from the lamb, leaving the skin untouched, and rub the joint with salt and pepper.leaveleave2 ●●○ S3 W3 noun 1 holiday [uncountable]BEC time that you are allowed to spend away from your work, especially in the armed forces I’ve applied for three days’ leave.on leave navy officers home on leave Your basic annual leave is 20 days.2 → maternity/sick/compassionate leave3 → leave of absence4 permission [uncountable] formalLET/ALLOW permission to do something All this was done entirely without my leave.leave to do something a petition for leave to appeal to the European courtgrant/obtain/ask/seek etc leave (to do something) He asked leave to speak to her in private.5 → without so much as a by your leave6 → take leave of your senses7 → take leave of somebody/take your leaveCOLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + leave annual leave (=an amount of time that you are allowed away from work for holidays etc)Annual leave is 22 days plus public holidays.maternity leave (=time that a mother is allowed away from work to have and take care of a new baby)Two teachers were off on maternity leave.paternity leave (=time that a father is allowed away from work to take care of a new baby)He got five days’ paternity leave.parental leave (=time that a parent is allowed away from work to take care of a child)Parental leave is often unpaid.sick leave (also medical leave American English) (=time that you are allowed away from work because you are ill)The form must be filled in as soon as you return from sick leave.compassionate leave (=time that you are allowed away from work because someone in your family is very ill or has died)Eileen was given compassionate leave to go to the funeral.paid/unpaid leaveShe took three days unpaid leave in order to help her daughter.home leave (=time that you are allowed to spend at home from a job that is far away, for example in the army, or from prison)Roberts had failed to return from home leave, and there was a warrant out for his arrest.shore leave (=time that a sailor is allowed to spend on land and away from work)Hong Kong was a popular place for shore leave.special leave (=time that you are allowed away from work for a special reason)Some firms grant special leave when you move house.study leave British English (=time that you are allowed away from work because you are taking a course)The company offers study leave for staff development.sabbatical leave (=time that a teacher is allowed away from work to study or travel)Headteachers can take sabbatical leave every five years.indefinite leave (=leave without a time limit)She has gone on indefinite leave, suffering from exhaustion.nounsleave entitlement (=the amount of time that you are allowed to spend away from work on holidays etc)The normal paid leave entitlement is 20 days.verbshave/get leaveHow much annual leave do you get?be entitled to leave (=be allowed to have as leave)After five years, employees are entitled to 25 days’ leave.go on leave (=start your time away from work)I’ll get the report to you before you go on leave.take leave (=use the time you are allowed)I don’t think I’ll be able to take any leave in January because we’re too busy.use (up) leaveI used all my leave in the summertime.give/grant somebody leaveHe was given compassionate leave.cancel somebody’s leave (=stop people taking leave)The Police Department cancelled all leave because of the emergency. Examples from the Corpus
leave• Phil still has three days' annual leave owing to him.• They're giving me five days' leave.• I get twenty-five days' leave a year.• I had come on leave first, so I was first to return.• They got married while he was on leave from the army.on leave• Carter is in charge of the office while I'm on leave.leave to do something• The manager should discuss the proposals for the coming year's maintenance programme before the allocation of annual leave to nurses.• I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the options for leave to which you may be entitled.• Anyone else must obtain leave to make an application.• Prior to Puhlhofer, failure to obtain leave to proceed by judicial review occurred in less than 10 percent of the applications.• Niall arrived home on leave to find she'd packed her bags and left him a note.• If the original statement requires correction it is presumably necessary to seek leave to amend although the rules are silent on this.• Our friend looked at them, then lifted the leaves to expose a lovely row of radishes we never knew we had!• Drain in a colander, pressing the leaves to extract all the juice.• I have to leave to pick up the kids at school.From Longman Business Dictionaryleaveleave /liːv/ noun [uncountable]HUMAN RESOURCES time that you are allowed to be absent from your workThe company offers attractive benefits, including five weeks’ leave per year.The Los Gatos School District has hired 21 new teachers to replace those who are on leave. → annual leave → compassionate leave → gardening leave → maternity leave → paternity leave → sabbatical leave → sick leave → special leaveOrigin leave1 Old English læfan leave2 Old English læf 