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to go away from someone or something, for a short time or permanently:
I'll be leaving at five o'clock tomorrow.
He left the house by the back door.
She left the group of people she was with and came over to speak to us.
The bus leaves in five minutes.
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to not take something or someone with you when you go, either intentionally or by accident:
Hey, you've left your keys on the table.
Can I leave a message for Sue?
Why don't you leave the kids with me on Friday?
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2
If something leaves something else, a part or effect of it stays after it has gone or been used:
His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
[ + two objects ] If I give you €$50 that won't leave me enough cash to pay the bill.
[ + obj + adj ] Far from improving things, the new law has left many people worse off (= they are now in a worse situation) than before.
Leave that chair where it is.
He left most of his dinner (= did not eat much of it).
[ + obj + adj ] The family were left (= became and continued to be) homeless.
I'll have to go back - I think I've left the iron on.
You can leave the window open.
Leave your sister alone (= stop annoying her).
I left the children watching television.
He left the engine running.
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to not eat or use all of something:
They'd eaten all the cake, but they'd left some sandwiches.
Are there any cookies left?
There's some food left over from the party.
Make sure you leave enough hot water for the rest of us.
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4
to stop doing something, or to leave a place because you have finished an activity:
Many children leave school at 16.
He left work in June for health reasons.
She left home (= stopped living with her parents) at 18.
Could we leave that subject (= stop discussing that subject) for the moment and go on to the next item on the agenda?
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to end a relationship with a husband, wife, or partner and stop living with them:
I'll never leave you.
She left her husband for a younger man.
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If you leave (doing) something, you wait before you do it:
I'll leave these letters till Monday (= write them on Monday).
Don't leave it too late (= don't wait too long to do it).
[ + -ing verb ] They left booking their holiday till/to the last minute.
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To leave a wife, husband, or other close family member is to die while these family members are still alive:
He left a wife and two children.
He left his nieces all his money./He left all his money to his nieces.
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to allow someone to make a choice or decision about something, or to make someone responsible for something:
I left the decision (up) to her.
[ + to infinitive ] I left it to her to make the decision.
Leave it (= the problem) with me, I'll see what I can do.
I'll leave it to chance (= wait and see what happens without planning).
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9
time allowed away from work for a holiday or illness:
How much annual/paid leave do you get?
She's (gone) on leave (= holiday).
I've asked if I can take a week's unpaid leave.
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permission or agreement:
He did it without (my) leave.
[ + to infinitive ] Did you get leave to do that?
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to say goodbye:
He decided the time had come to take leave of his home town.
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to go away from someone or something that stays in the same place:
[ I ] I’ll be leaving tomorrow.
[ T ] He left the house by the back door.
[ I/T ] The bus leaves (the station) in five minutes.
[ T ] He left work in June.
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to not take something with you:
I mistakenly left my checkbook at home.
Hurry up or you’ll get left behind the other hikers.
I’ve left dinner for you on the stove.
She left all her money to her children.
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to allow or cause something to stay in a particular place, position, or state:
The dog left muddy tracks on the carpet.
He left a message for me at the office.
Leave the window open.
Her rudeness left us all speechless.
He left the engine running.
I’ll leave the cleaning for tomorrow.
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to make something available after some part has been taken or used:
There are only four cookies – please leave one for me.
Five from twelve leaves seven (= Seven is the result of taking five from twelve).
There’s some pasta left over from dinner.
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to allow someone to make a choice or decision about something, or to make someone responsible for something:
Leave it to me – I’ll see what I can do.
I’ll leave it up to you to choose the gift.
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time permitted away from work, esp. for a medical condition or illness or for some other special purpose:
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permission to do something:
He took it without my leave.
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a period of time that someone is allowed away from work for holiday, illness, or another special reason:
take leave from sth I'm taking 5 days' unpaid leave from work to go to the wedding.
be/go on leave from sth Benefits will need to be adjusted when an employee is on leave from their job.
The appointee will be entitled to 38 days of annual leave.
Higher maternity pay and a longer leave entitlement are likely outcomes of the review.
adoption/bereavement/child-care leave
educational/medical leave
paid/unpaid leave
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agreement or permission to do something:
be given/granted leave to do sth She has been granted leave to remain in the country.
No application should be issued without my leave.
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to be told to take time away from work, usually because you have been accused of doing something wrong:
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permission to formally ask for a legal or official decision to be changed:
The defendant was given 14 days' leave to appeal against the decision.
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to go away from a place or a situation:
I'm leaving work early this afternoon.
What time does the bus leave?
They left for Paris last night.
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to go away from a place permanently:
She left her home country many years ago.
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to stop working for an organization or company, or stop attending a school, university, etc. :
She left to go to a rival company.
Ben Harris? He left about a month ago.
How old were you when you left school?
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to not use all of something:
Is there any money left in last year's budget?.
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to do something later that you could do immediately:
He always leaves writing is reports till the very last moment.
You should try to decide which tasks need to be done urgently and which ones can be left.
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to arrange for someone to receive something after you die:
His aunt left him a lot of money.
He left the house to this three children.
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to stop speaking to or annoying someone:
Leave me alone! I'm trying to work.