Left — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun verb /ˈleft/

Meaning & Definition of Left

Left (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
  2. done with the left hand
  3. located nearer to the left hand than to the right

Left (noun)

  1. the left hand
  2. the location or direction of the left side
  3. the part on the left side

Left (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom

    "a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left"

    similar: left wing, leftism, liberalism
    related: neoliberalism, radicalism, socialism
    opposite: conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right
    near: neoconservatism

Left (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: abandoned, deserted, forsook, marooned, quit, stranded, walked away from, walked out on
    related: discarded, ditched, dumped, flung, jettisoned, junked, scrapped, shed, shucked (off), threw away, threw out, delivered, gave up, handed over, relinquished, surrendered, yielded, escaped, retreated (from), took off (from), vacated, withdrew (from), abjured, cut off, disowned, rejected, renounced, repudiated, separated (from), sacrificed, distanced, disregarded, forgot, ignored, neglected
    opposite: reclaimed
    near: had, harbored, held, kept, owned, possessed, reserved, retained, withheld, redeemed, rescued, saved

  2. to give by means of a will

    "I'm going to leave all of my possessions to my children"

    similar: bequeathed, willed
    related: deeded, handed down, handed on, passed (down), devised

  3. to give up (a job or office)

    "he left his job in the city and moved out into the country"

    similar: bagged, chucked, quit, resigned (from), retired (from), stepped aside (from), stepped down (from), gave notice
    related: abandoned, vacated, dropped out (of), threw up
    opposite: stayed (at)
    near: hired (out or on)

  4. to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

    "why don't you leave your watch with me while you swim?"

    similar: commended, committed, confided, consigned, delegated, delivered, entrusted, gave, gave over, handed, handed over, passed, recommended, reposed, transferred, transmitted, trusted, turned over, vested
    related: conferred, granted, assigned, dealt (out), dispensed, dispersed, distributed, divided, handed in, released, relinquished, submitted, surrendered, turned in, yielded, bequeathed, handed down, handed on, willed, advanced, lent, loaned, furnished, supplied, recommitted, redelivered, retransferred, retransmitted
    opposite: held, kept, retained
    near: detained, held back, reserved, withheld, owned, possessed, accepted, received, took in, occupied, took, took over

  5. to end a usually intimate relationship with

    "is there ever a good way to leave a lover?"

    similar: blew off, broke off (with), ditched, dumped, jilted, kissed off, kissed good-bye
    related: brushed (aside or off), cold-shouldered, cut, high-hatted, slighted, snubbed, abandoned, deserted, forsook, marooned, quit
    near: hooked up (with), took, befriended, latched (on or onto)

  6. to give permission to

    "aw, leave him come"

    similar: allowed, let, permitted
    related: authorized, commissioned, empowered, licensed, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, freed, liberated, released, catered (to), gave in (to), humored, indulged
    opposite: enjoined, forbade, prohibited
    near: deterred, discouraged, barred, blocked, constrained, curbed, frustrated, held back, impeded, inhibited, obstructed, prevented

Related Entry: Left-handed (adjective)

Left-handed is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left-handed, not for left.

  1. lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands

    "I'd rather have no help at all than have his left-handed assistance"

    similar: awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed (British), clumsy, graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, maladroit, unhandy, all thumbs
    related: uncoordinated, bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful
    opposite: deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed
    near: expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, coordinated

  2. not being or expressing what one appears to be or express

    "failed to realize that he had received a left-handed compliment"

    similar: artificial, backhanded, counterfeit, double, double-dealing, double-faced, fake, feigned, hypocritical, insincere, Janus-faced, jive (slang), lip, mealy, mealymouthed, Pecksniffian, phony, phony-baloney, pretended, two-faced, unctuous
    related: affected, assumed, claptrap, contrived, forced, mechanical, put-on, simulated, strained, unnatural, empty, hollow, meaningless, deceitful, devious, dishonest, false, untruthful, facile, glib, superficial, bogus, sham, campy, facetious, jocular, tongue-in-cheek, canting, pharisaical, pious, sanctimonious, self-righteous, simon-pure
    opposite: artless, candid, genuine, heartfelt, honest, sincere, undesigning, unfeigned
    near: direct, forthright, frank, heart-to-heart, open, plain, straightforward

Related Entry: Left wing (noun)

Left wing is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left wing, not for left.

  1. a political belief stressing progress, the essential goodness of humankind, and individual freedom

    "the left wing has lost considerable influence in the party, which is now aggressively courting political moderates"

    similar: left, leftism, liberalism
    related: neoliberalism, radicalism, socialism
    opposite: conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right
    near: neoconservatism

Related Entry: Left (out) (verb)

Left (out) is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left (out), not for left.

  1. as in excluded, omitted

    similar: excluded, missed out (British), omitted, banned, barred, debarred, precluded, prevented, prohibited, denied, refused, rejected, eliminated, excepted, ruled out, lost, mislaid, misplaced
    opposite: carried, comprehended, contained, embraced, encompassed, entailed, included, involved, numbered, subsumed, took in, comprised, consisted (of), bracketed

Related Entry: Left-handed (adverb)

Left-handed is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left-handed, not for left.

  1. as in counterclockwise, anticlockwise

    similar: anticlockwise (chiefly British), counterclockwise, left-handedly, retrograde, reversely, widdershins, back, backward, rearward, astern, sternforemost
    opposite: ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward

Related Entry: Left-handedly (adverb)

Left-handedly is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left-handedly, not for left.

  1. as in counterclockwise, anticlockwise

    similar: anticlockwise (chiefly British), counterclockwise, left-handed, retrograde, reversely, widdershins, back, backward, rearward, astern, sternforemost
    opposite: ahead, along, forth, forward, forwards, on, onward

Related Entry: Left-winger (noun)

Left-winger is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left-winger, not for left.

  1. as in liberal, leftist

    similar: leftist, lefty, liberal, progressive, extremist, radical, red, revolutionary, revolutionist, reformer, reformist
    opposite: archconservative, conservative, paleoconservative, reactionary, rightist, right-winger, Tory, traditionalist, right, right-wing, conformist

Related Entry: Left-wingers (noun)

Left-wingers is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left-wingers, not for left.

  1. as in liberals, leftists

    similar: lefties, leftists, liberals, progressives, extremists, radicals, reds, revolutionaries, revolutionists, reformers, reformists
    opposite: archconservatives, conservatives, paleoconservatives, reactionaries, rightists, right-wingers, Tories, traditionalists, rights, right-wings, conformists

Related Entry: Left off (verb)

Left off is a different word from Left. The synonyms below are for left off, not for left.

  1. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "we usually leave off working as soon as the bell rings"

    similar: broke, broke off, broke up, canned (slang), ceased, cut off, cut out, desisted (from), discontinued, dropped, ended, gave over, halted, knocked off, laid off, packed (up or in), quit, shut off, stopped, had done with, put the kibosh on
    related: completed, concluded, finished, closed (down), deactivated, blockaded, blocked, dammed, delayed, detained, held, held back, hindered, impeded, kiboshed, obstructed, stemmed, called, suspended, arrested, braked, checked, clamped down, reined (in), squashed, squelched, stamped, stanched, stunted, suppressed, turned back, paused, stayed, abolished, aborted, annulled, demolished, destroyed, dissolved, killed, ruined, scuttled, snuffed
    near: carried on, continued, followed through (with), kept up, ran on, advanced, proceeded, progressed, actuated, drove, impelled, propelled, stirred

  2. to come to an end

    "the snow should leave off around midnight"

    similar: broke off, broke up, ceased, closed, concluded, dead-ended, determined, died, discontinued, elapsed, ended, expired, finished, halted, lapsed, let up, passed, quit, stopped, terminated, went, winked (out), wound up, bit the dust
    related: desisted (from), laid off (of), refrained (from), gave over (British), knocked off, packed (up or in), broke down, conked (out), cut out, stalled, paused, stayed, suspended, abated, petered (out), wound down
    opposite: continued, hung on, persisted
    near: drew out, extended, prolonged, protracted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Left

The most common words with a similar meaning to Left:

left wing, leftism, liberalism, abandoned, deserted, forsook, marooned, quit, stranded, bequeathed, willed, bagged, chucked, resigned (from), retired (from), stepped aside (from), stepped down (from), commended, committed, confided, consigned, delegated, delivered, entrusted, gave, gave over, handed, handed over, passed, recommended, reposed, transferred, transmitted, trusted, turned over, vested, blew off, broke off (with), ditched, dumped

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Left

Words with the opposite meaning of Left:

conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right, reclaimed, stayed (at), held, kept, retained, enjoined, forbade, prohibited

Related Words for Left

neoliberalism, radicalism, socialism, discarded, flung, jettisoned, junked, scrapped, shed, shucked (off), threw away, threw out, gave up, relinquished, surrendered, yielded, escaped, retreated (from), took off (from), vacated, withdrew (from), abjured, cut off, disowned, rejected, renounced, repudiated, separated (from), sacrificed, distanced

Near Antonyms of Left

neoconservatism, had, harbored, owned, possessed, reserved, withheld, redeemed, rescued, saved, hired (out or on), detained, held back, accepted, received, took in, occupied, took, took over, hooked up (with), befriended, latched (on or onto), deterred, discouraged, barred, blocked, constrained, curbed, frustrated, impeded

Word Forms of Left

Inflections: lefts

Derived words: left (adverb), leftmost (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Left

Middle English, from Old English, weak; akin to Middle Low German lucht left; from the left hand's being the weaker in most individuals

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Left

Words & Phrases Containing Left

left-bank, left brain, left-click, left field, left-hand, left-handed

Frequently Asked Questions about Left

What does "Left" mean?

"Left" means of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Left"?

Other words for "Left" include left wing, leftism, liberalism, abandoned, deserted, forsook, marooned and quit. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Left" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Left"?

There are 130 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Left". Common alternatives include left wing, leftism, liberalism, abandoned, deserted, forsook, marooned, quit, stranded and bequeathed.

What is the opposite of "Left"?

Antonyms of "Left" include conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right, reclaimed, stayed (at), held and kept. Near antonyms include neoconservatism, had, harbored and owned.

How do you use "Left" in a sentence?

Examples of "Left" in a sentence: "a rising politician who is being hailed as the new voice of the left"; "you can leave your lunch in the refrigerator while we're outside"; "starry-eyed lovers who promise never to leave one another".

Is "Left" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Left" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Left" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Left" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Left"?

"Left" is pronounced /ˈleft/.