Leave Definition

lēv

leaved, leaves, leaving, left

verb

leaves, leaving, left

To put forth, or bear, leaves; leaf.

Webster's New World

To go without taking or removing.

Left my book on the bus.

American Heritage

To cause or allow to remain; not take away.

To leave some of the food for latecomers.

Webster's New World

To omit or exclude.

Left out the funniest part of the story.

American Heritage

To go away from.

To leave the house.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

leaves

Permission.

Webster's New World

Permission to be absent from duty or work, esp. such permission given to personnel in the armed services.

Webster's New World

An act of departing; a farewell.

Took leave of her with a heavy heart.

American Heritage

The period for which such permission is granted.

Webster's New World

Permission to be absent; time away from one's work.

I've been given three weeks' leave by my boss.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

idiom

leave

To refrain from disturbing or interfering.

American Heritage

leave no stone unturned

To make every possible effort.

American Heritage

leave alone

see the phrase under alone

Webster's New World

leave off

to stop; cease
to stop doing, using, or wearing

Webster's New World

leave out

to omit
to ignore

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Leave

Noun

Singular:

leave

Plural:

leaves

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Leave

Origin of Leave

From Middle English leven, from Old English lÇ£fan (“to leave"), from Proto-Germanic *laibijanÄ… (“to let stay, leave"), causative of Proto-Germanic *lÄ«banÄ… (“to stay, remain"). Cognate with Old Frisian lÄ“va (“to leave"), Old Saxon lÄ“vian, Old High German leiban (“to leave"), Old Norse leifa (“leave over") (whence Icelandic leifa), lifna (“to be left") (whence Danish levne). More at lave, belive.

From Wiktionary
From Middle English leve, from Old English lÄ“af (“permission, privilege"), from Proto-Germanic *laubō, *laubÄ… (“permission, privilege, favour, worth"), from Proto-Indo-European *leubÊ°- (“to love, hold dear"). Cognate with obsolete German Laube (“permission"), Swedish lov (“permission"), Icelandic leyfi (“permission"). Related to Dutch verlof, German Erlaubnis. See also love.

From Wiktionary
From Middle English leven, from Old English lÄ«efan (“to allow, grant, concede; believe, trust, confide in"), from Proto-Germanic *laubijanÄ… (“to allow, praise"), from Proto-Indo-European *leubÊ°- (“to love, hold dear"). Cognate with German lauben (“to allow, believe"), Icelandic leyfa (“to allow").

From Wiktionary
Middle English leve from Old English lēafe dative and accusative of lēaf leubh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English leaven from Old English lǣfan leip- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle English leven, from lef (“leaf"). More at leaf.

From Wiktionary
Middle English leaven from leaf leaf leaf

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
See levy.

From Wiktionary