leave the building

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave the building" is a correct sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone should go outside of the building. For example, "Please leave the building now, as the security guard needs to do a check."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They never can leave the building.

The New York Times - Arts

He never seemed to leave the building.

The Washington Post

"Then police demanded everybody leave the building.

The Guardian

On some days she does not leave the building.

The New York Times - Arts

Then Friday they just asked me to leave the building".

The New York Times

I could not let her leave the building.

The New Yorker

"We were so afraid to leave the building.

The Guardian

"They're not telling me to leave the building".

The New York Times

"The police told us to leave the building," Akter said.

The Guardian

They want him to leave the building, now.

The New Yorker

They don't even like to leave the building".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave the building" when you want to clearly instruct or describe someone exiting a structure, whether in a casual or emergency situation.

Common error

Avoid using "leave the building" interchangeably with phrases like "abandon the building" or "vacate the premises" unless the context specifically implies a formal evacuation or abandonment. "Leave the building" is a more general term for simply exiting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave the building" functions primarily as an imperative or declarative statement indicating the action of exiting a structure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave the building" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to instruct or describe the act of exiting a structure. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's widely used across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Academia, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal situations. While alternatives like "exit the premises" or "vacate the building" exist, "leave the building" remains a versatile and straightforward choice for general use. When using this expression, ensure the context aligns with its general meaning, avoiding confusion with more specific terms like "evacuate" which imply an emergency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exit the premises

Focuses on the legal or official aspect of leaving, often used in formal contexts.

vacate the building

Implies a more formal or complete departure, often used in emergency situations or when a building is being closed.

evacuate the premises

This term is used specifically in situations where safety is a concern.

depart from the structure

A more formal and less common way to say "leave the building", suitable for technical or official contexts.

clear the building

Suggests an organized or systematic evacuation, often used by authorities during emergencies.

get out of the building

A more direct and informal way to say "leave the building", often used in urgent or casual situations.

go outside

A simple and general term indicating movement to the exterior, lacking the specificity of leaving a building.

step outside

Implies a brief or temporary exit from the building.

walk out of the building

Emphasizes the physical act of walking out, adding a descriptive element.

retire from the building

This more formal term replaces "leave" with "retire" giving it a more elegant twist.

FAQs

What does "leave the building" mean?

"Leave the building" means to exit a structure and go outside. It's a straightforward instruction or description of someone departing from a building.

How to use "leave the building" in a sentence?

You can use "leave the building" in sentences like, "The fire alarm rang, and everyone had to leave the building" or "Please leave the building immediately after your shift ends."

What are some alternatives to "leave the building"?

Alternatives include "exit the premises", "vacate the building" (often in emergencies), or simply "go outside" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "evacuate the building" instead of "leave the building"?

"Evacuate the building" is more appropriate when there's an emergency or a specific reason for a complete and orderly departure, while "leave the building" is a general term for exiting at any time.