as in departing
Related Words
Relevance
as in retirement
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in abandoning
to cause to remain behind
you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bequeathing
to give by means of a will
I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in quitting
to give up (a job or office)
he left his job in the city and moved out into the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in handing
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another
why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in dumping
to end a usually intimate relationship with
is there ever a good way to leave a lover?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in letting
to give permission to
aw, leave him come
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of leaving
ABC News,
30 June 2026
News of their leaving sent Google’s shares tumbling more than 5% on Monday.
—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Investigators never found footage of her leaving, according to the outlets, and her body has not been recovered.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The need at right-back feels more pressing, with Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth leaving, and Tino Livramento’s future uncertain.
—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
In post-pandemic Shanghai, two women — one leaving, one staying — share a single electric night wandering the city.
—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Mascherano is not the only one leaving.
—
Cbs Miami Team,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Mays then drove up to the man, got out of his car and shot him before getting back inside the vehicle and leaving, according to the report.
—
David Goodhue
april 13,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
With Peterson, Council and White leaving, the Jayhawks will lose three starters who combined to average 47 points per game.
—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Sofi Zeman
july 2,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2026
Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
—
Nc Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 July 2026
The actor was a replacement after Madonna backed out, leaving the proto-rave tune one of the era’s most unlikely collaborations.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
The sheriff's office said Butler failed to maintain a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the side of the home.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The 'new normal' The threats facing high-profile events in 2026 differ from those held in recent decades as technology has quickly evolved, experts said, leaving law enforcement agencies working to catch up.
—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 June 2026
Ghana is right on England's heels, though, as both teams won their previous matches, leaving them each with 4 points.
—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
The decision supports renewal of the project’s Source Materials License for another 20 years, leaving a safety evaluation as the final major review before the license can move forward.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Noun
The students, who were taking their secondary school leaving examinations when they were attacked and abducted, are between 15 and 18 years old.
—
ABC News,
30 June 2026
News of their leaving sent Google’s shares tumbling more than 5% on Monday.
—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Investigators never found footage of her leaving, according to the outlets, and her body has not been recovered.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
The need at right-back feels more pressing, with Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth leaving, and Tino Livramento’s future uncertain.
—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
In post-pandemic Shanghai, two women — one leaving, one staying — share a single electric night wandering the city.
—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Mascherano is not the only one leaving.
—
Cbs Miami Team,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Mays then drove up to the man, got out of his car and shot him before getting back inside the vehicle and leaving, according to the report.
—
David Goodhue
april 13,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
With Peterson, Council and White leaving, the Jayhawks will lose three starters who combined to average 47 points per game.
—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
Johnston, Cobbins leaving Johnston’s departure comes just three years after becoming the long-term replacement for former County Administrator Doug Bach, who left the government under an $800,000 separation agreement.
—
Sofi Zeman
july 2,
Kansas City Star,
3 July 2026
Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
—
Nc Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 July 2026
The actor was a replacement after Madonna backed out, leaving the proto-rave tune one of the era’s most unlikely collaborations.
—
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
The sheriff's office said Butler failed to maintain a single lane before leaving the roadway and crashing through the side of the home.
—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The 'new normal' The threats facing high-profile events in 2026 differ from those held in recent decades as technology has quickly evolved, experts said, leaving law enforcement agencies working to catch up.
—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Salicylic acid works deep within pores to tackle buildup, while lactic acid smooths rough texture and refines skin’s surface, leaving skin looking clearer and feeling smoother in just a few swipes.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 June 2026
Ghana is right on England's heels, though, as both teams won their previous matches, leaving them each with 4 points.
—
Monica Alba,
NBC news,
24 June 2026
The decision supports renewal of the project’s Source Materials License for another 20 years, leaving a safety evaluation as the final major review before the license can move forward.
—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaving
Noun
-
Sunday is expected to be the busiest day at O'Hare Airport, with more than 300,000 passengers arriving or departing.
-
While Schmid fills the role of a high-end backup, Florida still needs to acquire a starting-caliber goaltender prior to the start of the season with both Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov departing.
Verb
-
This is self-transcendence—not abandoning the self but expanding beyond a narrow sense of it.
-
While tackling expensive debt is a smart financial decision, abandoning your retirement has consequences.
Verb
-
William inherited the piece after her death in 1997, eventually bequeathing it to his wife.
-
The Cubs bequeathing the dubious distinction of the sport’s longest title drought to Cleveland.
Verb
-
In an interview with Daily Mail in February 2017, Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, shared that her daughter once worked at the popular chain restaurant before quitting to work as an exotic dancer at the Executive Suite.
-
Marcello Hernández recalls quitting soccer to pursue comedy Speaking of the World Cup, Hernández recently attended the Colombia-Portugal match in Miami.
Verb
-
Golden State finished with a season-high 15 steals after handing Atlanta back-to-back losses to start the Dream's 0-4 road trip.
-
Voice assistants already complete purchases and arrange food deliveries, without handing control back to the user.
Verb
-
Achiuwa had a good run at the end of the season as the Kings were dumping games left and right.
-
The leaks are dumping gallons upon gallons of wastewater into the Merrimack River.
Verb
-
Authorities stopped letting people into the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with more than 1,000 sheltering outside the building and some exposed to the elements.
-
And even though the Fourth is tomorrow, plenty of early deals are already letting the discount freedom ring.
Noun
-
That means millions of Americans might own the stock indirectly through index funds in personal portfoilos or their retirement accounts.
-
Calling 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer out of retirement for the tournament is an indication of the lack of world-class players head coach Julian Nagelsmann trusts.
Cite this Entry
“Leaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaving. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
