leave (verb) past tense: left LISTEN
If you leave, it means that you go away from somewhere.
- I left my house and went to work.
If you leave something, it means that you don’t take it with you.
- I left my phone at home today.
Leave can also mean that you don’t move or change something.
- Leave that chair where it is.
Don't confuse it with
Leaves are the parts of a tree that usually fall off at the end of the year. The singular is leaf. Example: “There are many beautiful leaves on the tree. This red leaf is my favorite.”
Common uses
If we don’t want someone to annoy another person, we can tell them to leave that person alone. For example, “Leave your mum alone; she’s busy just now.”
In pop culture
Listen to the 1983 song “Leave me alone” by New Order. You can read the lyrics below the video:
There are other meanings of leave.
Word of the Day is released Monday through Friday.