leave at once

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave at once" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express urgency in a situation or to instruct someone to leave right away. For example, you might say, "Please leave at once; the building is on fire."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

I leave at once".

The New Yorker

Amini was told to leave at once.

The New Yorker

When Gloria's parents found out about Salvatore, they decided to leave at once.

The New Yorker

[Geraldine gets back in the car.] Geraldine: I wish to leave at once.

The New York Times - Magazine

The last time a major hurricane menaced the Texas coast, in 2005, everyone tried to leave at once.

The Economist

Leni was offered a promotion, & Marta said she could leave at once, that she had become too lofty a lady.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Leaders of both left at once for London to be near their hero.

The Economist

Achatz was left at once hopeful and scared of a recurrence.

The New Yorker

In this case — with everyone leaving at once and dissolving the company, that provision is moot.

The New York Times

On this occasion, she meekly left at once for Montreal — with Guay.

The New Yorker

If many left at once, it would take months for American to license and train enough replacements.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave at once" to convey a sense of urgency or command, especially in situations where immediate departure is necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "leave at once" in casual conversation; it sounds overly formal or dramatic. Opt for phrases like "go now" or "get out of here" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave at once" functions primarily as an imperative, issuing a direct command or instruction for immediate departure. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave at once" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that functions as an imperative, conveying a sense of urgency and demanding immediate departure. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for situations where a quick exit is necessary. While it's prevalent in News & Media sources, it can also appear in Wiki contexts. However, be mindful of the formality, as it might sound overly dramatic in casual conversations. Alternatives like "depart immediately" or "exit promptly" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone. Overall, use "leave at once" when you need to express a strong command for immediate departure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depart immediately

Replaces 'leave' with 'depart' and 'at once' with 'immediately', both conveying prompt action.

exit promptly

Substitutes 'leave' with 'exit' and 'at once' with 'promptly', maintaining the sense of quick departure.

vacate the premises now

More formal; specifies 'vacate the premises' instead of 'leave', adding 'now' for emphasis.

get out of here now

More informal; uses colloquial language to express the need to leave quickly.

be gone immediately

Emphasizes the state of being away or departed, using 'immediately' for urgency.

make an immediate exit

Replaces 'leave' with 'make an exit', highlighting the action of leaving, and 'immediate' for the timing.

take off right now

Informal; uses 'take off' to mean leave, adding 'right now' for increased urgency.

begone forthwith

Archaic and formal; 'begone' means to go away, and 'forthwith' means immediately.

decamp without delay

Uses 'decamp', which suggests leaving a camp or temporary location, and 'without delay' for immediacy.

remove yourself instantly

A direct instruction to move away quickly, using 'remove yourself' as a more formal alternative to 'leave'.

FAQs

How can I use "leave at once" in a sentence?

You can use "leave at once" to issue a command or express urgency, such as, "If you see any suspicious activity, "leave at once" and report it to the authorities."

What can I say instead of "leave at once"?

You can use alternatives like "depart immediately", "exit promptly", or "vacate the premises now" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "leave at once" or "left at once"?

"Leave at once" is the correct form for issuing a command in the present tense. "Left at once" indicates that someone has already departed immediately.

What's the difference between "leave at once" and "leaving at once"?

"Leave at once" is an imperative, ordering someone to depart immediately. "Leaving at once" describes the action of someone departing immediately, such as, "They are "leaving at once" due to the emergency."