Took leave

USAGE SUMMARY

"took leave" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to someone who has temporarily left their job or position, often for personal reasons or vacation. Example: "She took leave to care for her sick parent." Alternative expressions include "took time off" and "went on leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Took leave of absence from '49 to '52 to serve as cultural attache to our Embassy here.

The New Yorker

George Foreman took leave for almost 10 years.

The New York Times - Sports

Murphy took leave from his duties on the high court but refused to resign.

The Guardian

He took leave from his insurance job, to no great avail.

The Guardian - Books

"A lot of the soldiers over at Fort Gordon took leave to man the scoreboards.

The New York Times - Sports

And he took leave of them with "Buon pranzo" — "Have a good lunch" — which was cheered even more.

The New York Times

Kate Miller, who got out on "exochorion," took leave of the stage with a practiced parade-princess wave.

The New Yorker

Unfortunately Pitbull was there to do the honours, along with Jennifer Lopez, who took leave from the block that night.

The Guardian - Music

Bartlett took leave from his position as leader, and did not recontest it after the 2004 election.

The Guardian

In 1963, Carpenter took leave from Nasa to join the navy's Sealab project, becoming what was called an "aquanaut".

The Guardian

About 16 percent of covered and eligible workers under the Family and Medical Leave Act took leave last year, a share comparable to that in 2000.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took leave" to clearly indicate a formal or recognized period of absence from work, duty, or a specific role. This phrase is suitable for professional and formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "took leave" when referring to a brief, unscheduled absence. This phrase usually implies a planned and approved absence of more than a day.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "took leave" is to act as a verb phrase, indicating the action of departing or being absent from a job, duty, or place. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "took leave" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that denotes a temporary departure from a job, duty, or place, as verified by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it serves to inform others of an individual's formal absence. When writing, it's best to use "took leave" when referring to a planned and approved absence and to be aware of suitable alternatives like "went on leave" or "took time off". Its prevalence across reliable sources underscores its correct and widespread usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Went on leave

Emphasizes the action of starting a period of absence.

Took a leave of absence

More explicit about the type of leave, often implying a formal arrangement.

Took time off

A more general term for taking a break from work or other responsibilities.

Went on sabbatical

Implies a longer period of absence, typically for academic or professional development.

Stepped away

Suggests a temporary withdrawal from a position or activity.

Took a break

A simpler way to indicate a pause from regular duties.

Withdrew temporarily

Highlights the act of removing oneself from a situation for a limited time.

Resigned temporarily

Indicates a planned return after a period of absence.

Took furlough

Specific to temporary unpaid leave, often due to economic reasons.

Relieved oneself of duties

A more formal way to describe the act of being freed from responsibilities temporarily.

FAQs

What does "took leave" mean?

"Took leave" means to have departed or temporarily withdrawn from a position, job, or place. It often implies a formal or approved absence.

What can I say instead of "took leave"?

You can use alternatives like "went on leave", "took time off", or "went on sabbatical" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "took leave"?

It's appropriate when someone has formally requested and been granted a period of absence from their duties, such as for vacation, medical reasons, or personal matters.

Is there a difference between "took leave" and "took a leave of absence"?

The phrases are very similar, but "took a leave of absence" is more explicit and often implies a formal arrangement or official approval for the time away. "Took leave" is a shorter, more general form.