decide to leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decide to leave" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a choice or determination to exit a situation, place, or relationship. Example: "After much consideration, I have decided to leave my job for a new opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They'll probably decide to leave you alone.

The New Yorker

Why did you decide to leave Italy?

The Guardian - Music

What made your mother decide to leave?

The Guardian

At this point, I decide to leave.

The Guardian - Sport

I decide to leave right after lunch.

The Washington Post

I meant did any decide to leave their husbands?

The New York Times - Arts

At what point did you decide to leave Washington?

The New York Times

I felt great but sometimes you decide to leave".

Independent

And ultimately that led me to decide to leave.

The New York Times

Some might even decide to leave the country.

The Washington Post

"They make threats and people decide to leave.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decide to leave", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the departure. Providing context strengthens the sentence and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid stating only that someone "decided to leave" without explaining why. Readers need context to understand the motivation behind the decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decide to leave" functions as an infinitive phrase, often acting as a verb complement or adverbial modifier. It indicates a conscious choice and intention to depart from a situation, place, or relationship. This is supported by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Wiki

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "decide to leave" is a very common and grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to express a conscious choice to depart from a situation, place, or relationship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media, Wiki, Science and Formal & Business. Expert analysis rates the phrase highly for grammatical correctness, source authority, and usage consistency. When using "decide to leave", ensure you provide adequate context to explain the reasoning behind the decision. Alternatives such as "choose to depart" or "opt to exit" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

choose to depart

Emphasizes the act of choosing an alternative to remaining.

opt to exit

Highlights the selection of an exit strategy or course of action.

determine to abandon

Focuses on a firm decision to give up or forsake something.

resolve to quit

Implies a firm decision to stop doing something.

make up one's mind to go

Highlights the mental process of reaching a decision to depart.

reach a decision to withdraw

Focuses on the formal act of retreating or pulling back.

elect to pull out

Suggests a strategic decision to remove oneself from a situation.

conclude to relinquish

Emphasizes the act of surrendering or giving something up.

figure out to escape

Implies working out a plan to get away from a situation.

settle on departing

Highlights the finality of the decision to leave.

FAQs

How can I use "decide to leave" in a sentence?

You can use "decide to leave" to express a conscious choice to depart from a place, situation, or relationship. For example, "After careful consideration, I "decided to leave" my current job."

What are some alternatives to saying "decide to leave"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "choose to depart", "opt to exit", or "resolve to quit".

Is it better to say "decide to leave" or "decide to go"?

"Decide to leave" is generally more specific and implies a permanent departure, whereas "decide to go" can be more general and temporary. The better choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "decide to leave" and "choose to leave"?

While similar, "decide to leave" implies a more deliberate and considered decision, whereas "choose to leave" can suggest a simpler selection between options. Both are valid, but "decide" often carries more weight.