left to meet

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to meet" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has departed or is no longer present in order to meet someone else. Example: "After the meeting concluded, she left to meet her friend for lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Three hours into the meeting, Shanker left to meet with the Teachers Retirement Systemm.

The New Yorker

But for the leader, here's your five steps: Forward with your left Forward with your right Forward with left To the right with your right Feet together, moving left to meet right.

WikiHow

He even left to meet friends and celebrate".

The Guardian - Sport

Was he clubbed and left to meet a lingering end?

The Guardian

The two men then left to meet together along with their teams of arms control experts.

The New York Times

Enright left to meet Cristina at a nearby restaurant and give her instructions.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Conklin leaves to meet his mistress, the others leave.

The New Yorker

He sent a few sample drawings and, given leave to meet its editor in Paris, became a contributor.

Independent

Mr. Cox offered to treat Ms. Argie and her companions to drinks, but was disappointed when she said they had to leave to meet other celebrants.

The New York Times

This is where the argument ends, and Socrates leaves to meet his accusers.

SEP

She leaves to meet Adrienne, who says that she knows that Marie no longer wants to die.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context provides clarity about who is "leaving" and who they are "meeting". This avoids ambiguity and ensures the sentence is easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using the past perfect tense unnecessarily (e.g., "had left to meet"). The simple past tense ("left to meet") is usually sufficient and more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to meet" functions as an infinitive phrase indicating purpose. The infinitive phrase specifies the reason for someone's departure, adding clarity to the action. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "left to meet" is a grammatically correct and versatile way to express someone's departure with the intention of meeting someone else. As confirmed by Ludwig, it enjoys widespread use across various contexts, including news, general writing, and academic papers. The phrase is primarily used to provide context and purpose for the act of leaving. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, maintaining clarity about who is leaving and who they are meeting is essential. Remember to avoid unnecessary tense complications to ensure your writing remains both clear and concise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

departed to rendezvous

Replaces "meet" with "rendezvous", implying a pre-arranged meeting, and "left" with "departed", a more formal synonym.

went to connect

Uses "went" instead of "left" to imply a past action of departure, and "connect" instead of "meet" implying to build a relationship.

set off to encounter

Substitutes "left" with "set off", suggesting the beginning of a journey, and "meet" with "encounter", implying a chance meeting or confrontation.

took off to see

Replaces "left" with "took off" a more informal way to express departure, and "meet" with "see" implying a visit.

stepped away to link up

Uses "stepped away" to suggest a temporary departure, and "link up" instead of "meet" implying a networking meeting.

headed out to assemble

Replaces "left" with "headed out", indicating a direction of travel, and "meet" with "assemble", suggesting a formal gathering.

started out to visit

Replaces "left" with "started out", indicating the commencement of a journey, and "meet" with "visit", implying a social call.

withdrew to convene

Uses "withdrew" for a more formal sense of leaving, and "convene" to emphasize a planned and formal meeting.

excused oneself to greet

Substitutes "left" with "excused oneself", adding a layer of politeness, and "meet" with "greet", emphasizing the welcoming aspect of the meeting.

disengaged to converge

Substitutes "left" with "disengaged", adding a sense of detachment, and "meet" with "converge", suggesting a coming together from different directions.

FAQs

What does "left to meet" mean?

The phrase "left to meet" means that someone departed or went away for the specific purpose of meeting someone else. It indicates a directed action towards a planned encounter.

What can I say instead of "left to meet"?

You can use alternatives like "departed to meet", "went to meet", or "headed to meet" depending on the context.

How to use "left to meet" in a sentence?

You can use "left to meet" in a sentence like this: "After the conference, she left to meet her colleagues for dinner." It shows the purpose of her leaving.

What is the difference between "left to meet" and "had to meet"?

"Left to meet" implies a departure with a meeting as the purpose, while "had to meet" indicates an obligation or necessity to meet someone, without necessarily implying a departure.