leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to indicate that someone is going away or departing from a location. For example, "Alice is leaving for Toronto tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.

The New York Times

We are leaving in 2014.

The Guardian

"We have lately seen an increase in the number of persons leaving Norway to take part in acts of war, attend training camps or join terrorist networks abroad," the Norwegian authorities said.

The New York Times

Related: A new study urges leaving fossil fuels in the ground.

The Guardian

These reached boiling point in the western city of Zhanaozen in late 2011 when authorities opened fire on striking workers, leaving at least 14 dead.

The Guardian

When leaving a message on this page, please be sensitive to the fact that you are responding to a real person in the grip of a real-life dilemma, who wrote to Private Lives asking for help, and may well view your comments here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Gisby was earmarked to receive a bonus of up to £371,000, but Network Rail said he would be leaving in February without any additional payment beyond that stipulated in his contract.

The Guardian - Business

A judge accepted Whelan's offer to submit his passport and imposed conditions that prevented the executive from leaving the city for more than eight consecutive days without communicating his absence.

The Guardian - Sport

An apocryphal story says that a few days earlier, the then 22-year-old was at the Cannes film festival, leaving a screening of Steven Soderbergh's sex, lies and videotape.

The Guardian - Film

A vote today between the status quo and leaving would be an entirely false choice".

The Guardian

The weaker currency that would result from leaving the euro is not a get out of jail free card, far from it.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaving", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being left behind, whether it's a physical location, a state of being, or a relationship. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "leaving" when a stronger verb like "abandoning" or "deserting" is more appropriate. "Leaving" can sometimes downplay the severity of a situation where something is being forsaken without intention of return.

Linguistic Context

The word "leaving" functions primarily as a present participle, often used to form continuous verb tenses (e.g., "is leaving") or as a gerund (e.g., "leaving a message"). Ludwig examples illustrate its use in describing ongoing actions and states.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leaving" is a versatile and commonly used present participle that functions to describe the act of departing or relinquishing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, context is key to ensuring appropriate and nuanced usage. When it comes to express alternative, consider "departing" or "exiting".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departing

Indicates a formal or official departure, often used in travel or organizational contexts.

exiting

Implies a physical departure from a place or a metaphorical exit from a situation or agreement.

abandoning

Suggests a more permanent and often negative departure, implying neglect or forsaking.

vacating

Refers to the act of making a place empty by departing from it.

withdrawing

Indicates a retreat or pulling back from a position, commitment, or involvement.

quitting

Implies a voluntary departure from a job, habit, or activity.

relocating

Suggests moving to a new place, often for work or a new life.

moving on

Indicates a transition to a new phase or activity, often after a period of time.

going away

A more casual way of saying leaving, often implying a temporary absence.

fleeing

Suggests a hurried or scared departure, often from danger or an unpleasant situation.

FAQs

How can I use "leaving" in a sentence?

You can use "leaving" in various contexts, such as "She is "leaving for Paris" tomorrow", "The scandal is "leaving a stain on his reputation"", or "He's "leaving the company after 10 years"".

What are some alternatives to the word "leaving"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "departing", "exiting", "abandoning", or "vacating" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "leaving from" or "leaving for" a place?

Both "leaving from" and "leaving for" are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Leaving from" emphasizes the origin of the departure, while "leaving for" emphasizes the destination.

What is the difference between "leaving" and "abandoning"?

"Leaving" generally implies a departure, which may be temporary or permanent, and doesn't necessarily carry a negative connotation. "Abandoning", on the other hand, suggests a more permanent and often irresponsible or negative act of deserting something or someone.