he was leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is in the process of departing or going away from a place. Example: "As the clock struck midnight, he was leaving the party, saying his goodbyes to everyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was leaving school.

The New Yorker

Or he was leaving her.

The New Yorker

And yet he was leaving.

The New York Times

Last month, he announced he was leaving.

The New York Times

"He never told anybody he was leaving.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Spassky, incensed, announced he was leaving.

The New York Times - Sports

He was leaving nothing to chance.

The New York Times

Now he was leaving it for dead.

The New Yorker

He was leaving the firm.

The New York Times

But he was leaving nothing to chance.

The Washington Post

Problem was, he was leaving at noon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was leaving", ensure the context clearly establishes the starting point or location from which the subject is departing. For example: "He was leaving the office when he received the call."

Common error

Avoid using "he was leaving" without specifying where he was leaving from. Without a clear reference point, the sentence lacks clarity and can confuse the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was leaving" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action in progress in the past. It is typically used to describe someone who was in the process of departing from a place or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Books

25%

Sports

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was leaving" is a grammatically sound and highly frequent verb phrase used to describe an action of departure in progress. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and broad applicability. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, particularly in news, literature, and everyday conversation. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify the origin point of the departure. Alternatives like "he was departing" or "he went away" offer similar meanings with slight variations in formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was departing

Uses a synonym for "leaving", maintaining the continuous tense and similar meaning.

he departed

Replaces the continuous tense with a simple past tense, indicating a completed action of leaving.

he exited

A more formal or theatrical way of saying he left.

he went away

Replaces "leaving" with a more general phrase indicating movement away from a place.

he set off

Implies the beginning of a journey, focusing on the act of starting to leave.

he took off

Employs an informal idiom to describe the act of leaving, suggesting a quick or sudden departure.

he withdrew

Suggests a more formal or strategic retreat or departure from a situation or place.

he abandoned

Indicates a more permanent and often negative form of leaving, implying desertion.

he cleared out

Implies a thorough and possibly hasty departure, often suggesting the removal of belongings.

he absconded

Indicates a secretive or sudden departure, often to avoid legal consequences.

FAQs

How can I use "he was leaving" in a sentence?

Use "he was leaving" to describe someone in the process of departing from a specific location or situation. For example: "He was leaving the party when it started to rain."

What can I say instead of "he was leaving"?

Alternatives include "he was departing", "he went away", or "he took off", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "he was leave" instead of "he was leaving"?

No, "he was leave" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "he was leaving", which uses the present participle of the verb 'to leave'.

What's the difference between "he left" and "he was leaving"?

"He left" implies a completed action of departure, while "he was leaving" indicates an action in progress. For example, "He left the building" means he is no longer there, whereas "He was leaving the building" suggests he was in the process of departing.