leave behind

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave behind" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something has been left in a place and will remain there. For example, "I left the books behind in my bedroom when I moved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Q. Leave behind?

The New York Times

What wouldn't they leave behind?

University of California, Berkeley

What can business travellers safely leave behind?

The Economist

What do they leave behind?

The Guardian

What did coal leave behind?

The Guardian - Opinion

What must they leave behind?

The New York Times

What would they leave behind?

The New York Times - Books

Who did you leave behind?

The New York Times

He didn't leave behind much revealing information.

The New York Times - Books

What does a writer leave behind?

The New Yorker

This is what I will leave behind".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the emotional weight of "leave behind." It can imply abandonment, loss, or a conscious choice to move forward. Use it thoughtfully to convey the intended sentiment.

Common error

Avoid using "leave behind" casually when the intention is simply to forget something temporarily. "I left my keys" implies a simple oversight, whereas "I left my past behind" conveys a much deeper sense of closure or escape.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "leave behind" is that of a phrasal verb. It combines the verb "leave" with the particle "behind" to create a new meaning. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and various contexts through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave behind" functions as a versatile phrasal verb with several meanings, including abandoning something, surpassing something else, or creating a lasting impact. Ludwig AI indicates its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts, from news and media to academic writing and wikis. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the intended connotation, whether it's a simple act of forgetting or a more profound sense of closure or legacy. By understanding these nuances, you can ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

leave a legacy

Highlights the lasting impact or memory created.

abandon

Focuses solely on the act of deserting something or someone.

forsake

Emphasizes a more formal or moral renunciation.

outpace

Highlights the act of progressing faster than someone or something.

surpass

Indicates exceeding expectations or a previous level.

bequeath

Implies formally passing something on, often through a will.

outstrip

Suggests exceeding something in extent or degree.

create a memory

Focuses on generating something memorable for others.

cause to remain

Focuses on the act of causing something to stay in a place after departure.

fail to take

Emphasizes the oversight or neglect in taking something along.

FAQs

How can I use "leave behind" in a sentence?

You can use "leave behind" to describe abandoning something, surpassing something else, or creating a lasting impact. For instance, "They had to leave their possessions behind during the evacuation", "This new technology leaves behind all previous models", or "She wanted to leave behind a positive legacy".

What can I say instead of "leave behind"?

Alternatives to "leave behind" include "abandon", "surpass", "leave a legacy", or "outpace", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to "leave behind" a legacy?

To "leave behind" a legacy means to create a lasting impact or memory that remains after one's departure or death. This legacy can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the actions and contributions of the individual.

Is there a difference between "leave behind" and "left behind"?

"Leave behind" is the infinitive form, used with auxiliary verbs (e.g., "will leave behind", "can leave behind"). "Left behind" is the past tense and past participle, used to describe something that was abandoned or surpassed in the past (e.g., "They left behind their home", "The old technology was left behind").