as in departing
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as in retirement
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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
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Recent Examples of leaving
Simon Hughes, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The Hauler has no cab (essentially a self-driving platform) and is designed for 40-foot and 53-foot shipping containers and runs dock-to-dock—unloading at the destination rather than dropping a trailer and leaving.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 21 Apr. 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
Additional markets, lighting and winter programming across nearby streets could encourage visitors to explore multiple blocks rather than visiting one location and leaving.
—Liam Stanton, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The drone captured two sets of ski tracks entering the avalanche area, but only one leaving, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
At one stage of the review process, authorities even restricted two Manus co-founders from leaving the country, according to the Financial Times.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Graham suggested shifting the project to rely on public funding, offset by federal fees, while leaving private money for extras.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
For decades, nonprofits in Connecticut have operated under chronic underfunding, leaving them with less buying power, thinner margins, and fewer tools to meet rising demand.
—David Rich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
The report confirmed tracking data reported earlier by CBS News that showed the Idemitsu Maru leaving the Persian Gulf via the strait on Tuesday morning.
—CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
The Cubs stranded a season-high 17 runners on base Tuesday, their first win when leaving at least 17 on base since June 2, 2018, and their first at Wrigley Field since July 3, 2010 (both also had 17 LOB).
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias, vanished weeks apart in 2025 under nearly identical circumstances, each leaving behind their car, keys, wallet, and phone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Last summer was a whirlwind, with nine new players joining the first-team squad and eight leaving.
—Simon Hughes, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
The Hauler has no cab (essentially a self-driving platform) and is designed for 40-foot and 53-foot shipping containers and runs dock-to-dock—unloading at the destination rather than dropping a trailer and leaving.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 21 Apr. 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
Additional markets, lighting and winter programming across nearby streets could encourage visitors to explore multiple blocks rather than visiting one location and leaving.
—Liam Stanton, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
The drone captured two sets of ski tracks entering the avalanche area, but only one leaving, officials said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
On Saturday, April 25, Banderas, 65, and Griffith, 68, were spotted leaving Beverly Hills sushi restaurant Matsuhisa arm-in-arm after enjoying dinner together.
—Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
The complementary conditioner dials up the moisture with shea butter, murumuru butter, and amino acids to smooth and strengthen—leaving hair soft, bouncy, and ready for styling.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Apr. 2026
At one stage of the review process, authorities even restricted two Manus co-founders from leaving the country, according to the Financial Times.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Graham suggested shifting the project to rely on public funding, offset by federal fees, while leaving private money for extras.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 Apr. 2026
For decades, nonprofits in Connecticut have operated under chronic underfunding, leaving them with less buying power, thinner margins, and fewer tools to meet rising demand.
—David Rich, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
The report confirmed tracking data reported earlier by CBS News that showed the Idemitsu Maru leaving the Persian Gulf via the strait on Tuesday morning.
—CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
The Cubs stranded a season-high 17 runners on base Tuesday, their first win when leaving at least 17 on base since June 2, 2018, and their first at Wrigley Field since July 3, 2010 (both also had 17 LOB).
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
Two Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias, vanished weeks apart in 2025 under nearly identical circumstances, each leaving behind their car, keys, wallet, and phone.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaving
Noun
-
This evocative tale explores the uncertainty of leaving home, even if departing means rejoining a cherished relationship.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Travel at some of the region’s largest airports was sharply curtailed with more than 5,000 flights — arriving and departing — were canceled Monday from Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport in Arlington, VA, north to Boston’s Logan International Airport.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kiffin was excoriated by fans and media for abandoning his team, but neither Chambliss nor his family begrudge the coach for leaving.—
Bomani Jones,
Vanity Fair,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Musk is accusing ChatGPT’s parent company, OpenAI, and its leaders — CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman — of misleading him and abandoning the company’s original nonprofit mission.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Rewriting society’s decision-making Unlike biased pundits who hem, haw and hedge their bets, Web3 prediction markets cut through noise, bequeathing a signal that feeds into pricing mechanisms themselves.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Skipping that meeting and quitting OPEC at the same time will be seen as a snub to Saudi’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Riley sails on, prow forward, fighting to avoid the Imagination’s unceremonious fate, not quitting, not wishing to be retired, but battling time.—
Greg Cote
April 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In an interview with Beauty Inc published last September, the reality star spoke about eventually handing the reins to her daughter Stormi Webster, now 8, one day.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Viewers flooded the clip with reactions, and many were especially moved by the woman’s decision to cool the french fry down before handing it over to the dog.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Severe thunderstorms barreled through the Kansas City area early Monday, unleashing frequent lightning and booming thunder, dumping torrential rain and triggering a tornado warning.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Investors bought tech stocks viewed as supporting the AI infrastructure buildout and dumping those seen as threatened by its adoption.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Slow Avdija's running mates The Spurs’ defense, though mostly solid so far, has had a nasty habit of letting one of Portland’s guards get going in each of the three games of the series.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That’s the Freeling family — never letting their offensive lineman-of-a-third-born-sibling getting a big head.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Millions of Americans are turning to AI chatbots for help with their finances, asking about budgets, debt payoff plans, retirement strategies and investment options.—
Michelle Singletary,
Washington Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Her elevation to the appellate court would fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Richard Huffman.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Leaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaving. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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