has been leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been leaving" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an ongoing action in the past. For example: "She has been leaving earlier and earlier each day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

But increasingly Mr. Tsui has been leaving that theme behind.

The New York Times

As Mr. Buffett put it, "my gang has been leaving the middle class in the dust".

The New York Times

He has been leaving them closed because he fears taunts from his neighbours.

The Guardian

In recent years, my gang has been leaving the middle class in the dust.

The New York Times

In Jerusalem neighborhoods, a party of ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews has been leaving fliers on doorsteps.

The New York Times

Toibin has been leaving home and coming home for decades now, starting when his father was sick.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Germany has been left on its own".

Independent

'The victim has been left highly traumatised.

Independent

This has been left largely to Hollywood.

The Economist

The kitchen has been left virtually untouched.

The New York Times

audience has been left behind.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been leaving" to describe an action of departing that has been occurring over a period of time and may still be ongoing or have recently ceased. For instance, "The company has been leaving the market due to increasing competition."

Common error

Avoid using "has been leaving" when a simple past tense ("left") or present perfect tense ("has left") is more appropriate for describing a completed action with no ongoing implication. For example, instead of "He has been leaving the office", use "He left the office" if the action is completed.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "has been leaving" is to act as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that began in the past, continues to the present, or has recently ceased. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been leaving" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, depicting an action that started in the past and extends to the present or has recently concluded. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While versatile, it's important to distinguish its ongoing implication from the completed action conveyed by "has left". When a more formal term is needed, options include "has departed", depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has departed

Uses a single-word verb to convey the action of leaving.

has been exiting

Emphasizes the action of going out or away from a place.

has withdrawn from

Implies a more formal or deliberate departure.

has abandoned

Suggests a complete and possibly abrupt departure.

has relinquished

Indicates giving up or letting go of something, leading to a departure.

has been deserting

Conveys leaving someone or something in a way that is considered disloyal or wrong.

has evacuated

Implies leaving a place due to danger or emergency.

has emigrated from

Indicates leaving one's country to settle permanently in another.

has absconded with

Suggests leaving secretly and often unlawfully, especially to avoid arrest or prosecution.

has retired from

Means leaving a job or career after many years of service.

FAQs

How can I use "has been leaving" in a sentence?

Use "has been leaving" to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, or has recently stopped. For example: "She "has been leaving" work early all week."

What are some alternatives to "has been leaving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "has departed", "has been exiting", or "has withdrawn from".

What is the difference between "has been leaving" and "has left"?

"Has been leaving" describes an ongoing or recently completed action, while "has left" indicates a completed action with no implication of continuation. For example, "She "has been leaving" early" suggests a repeated action, whereas "She has left" simply states she is no longer here.

Is "has been leaving" formal or informal?

"Has been leaving" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the specific context and surrounding language will ultimately determine the overall formality.