leave for

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when talking about leaving a place to go somewhere else. Example: "I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Leave for 15 minutes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Leave for four minutes.

The New York Times

I leave for the day.

The New York Times

They leave for Cornwall.

The Guardian

Leave for Pakistan.

The New York Times

Leave for the winter.

The New York Times

Leave for 12 hours.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Most people leave for the wrong reasons.

The New York Times

He was about to leave for Pakistan.

The New Yorker

I leave for Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday.

The New York Times

We leave for Italy Sunday.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave for" when you want to emphasize the act of departing and heading towards a specific place, especially when the destination is important to the context.

Common error

Don't use "leave for" without a clear destination; this can create confusion. Instead of saying "I will leave for the trip", specify: "I will leave for the mountains".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave for" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of departing or setting out toward a specific destination. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Examples include "We leave for Italy Sunday" or "I leave for Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

38%

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leave for" is a very common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe departing or setting out towards a specific destination. Ludwig AI confirms its common use and clear meaning. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts, from informal conversations to news reports. When using "leave for", it's important to specify the destination to avoid ambiguity. Common alternatives include "depart for", "set off for", and "head to". Understanding these nuances ensures clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

depart for

Focuses on the act of departing, similar to leaving but often implies a more formal or official departure.

set off for

Emphasizes the beginning of a journey or trip, highlighting the initiation of travel.

take off for

Implies a quick or sudden departure, often used in informal contexts.

head to

Indicates a direction or destination, often used in a casual context to describe moving towards a place.

start out for

Highlights the commencement of a journey or effort toward a specific location or goal.

go to

A simple and general way to express movement towards a destination, lacking the emphasis on departure.

move to

Suggests a more permanent or long-term change of location, rather than a temporary trip.

make way for

This alternative shifts the meaning from physical departure to creating space or opportunity, which is semantically different.

emigrate to

This option means leaving one's country to live in another, usually permanently, which is a big semantic change.

retreat to

This suggests withdrawing to a place, often for safety or privacy, which implies a different intention than simply "leaving for".

FAQs

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

You can use "leave for" to indicate departing to a specific location. For example, "I will leave for London tomorrow morning" or "They leave for work at 8 AM every day".

What is a good alternative to "leave for"?

Alternatives to "leave for" include "depart for", "set off for", or "head to". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "leave to" instead of "leave for"?

No, "leave to" has a different meaning. "Leave for" indicates departing towards a destination, while "leave to" suggests entrusting something to someone or leaving something in a specific state. For example, "I leave for the office" versus "I leave the decision to you".

What's the difference between "leave for" and "leave to"?

"Leave for" implies departing towards a destination. "Leave to", on the other hand, means to entrust or delegate something to someone. For example, "I will leave for New York" indicates travel, while "I leave the task to him" means I'm giving him the responsibility.