they were leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were leaving" is correct and can be used in written English.
It usually refers to someone (or a group of people) moving away from a particular place. For example: The family was sad to say goodbye as they were leaving for their new home across the country.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were leaving a funeral — her funeral.

Independent

They were leaving the next day.

The New Yorker

Nobody said they were leaving the area.

The New York Times

It was as if they were leaving.

The Guardian

"They already knew they were leaving," he said.

The New York Times

And now they were leaving school, and it wasn't different.

The New York Times - Magazine

Last seen, they were leaving the store hand in hand.

The New York Times

But he acknowledged they were leaving an impression.

The New York Times

The girls suddenly realized they were leaving childhood & entering adolescence.

The New Yorker

But there they were, leaving little to the imagination.

The New York Times - Travel

But they were leaving, and blacks were arriving.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were leaving" to clearly indicate a group's action of departing from a specific place or situation. Ensure the context provides clarity on where they were leaving from.

Common error

Avoid using "they was leaving", as "was" is singular. The correct form for a plural subject is "they were leaving".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were leaving" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, describing an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used.

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, the phrase "they were leaving" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression in English to denote that a group of individuals was in the process of departing from a place or situation at a time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Predominantly found in news and media sources, its neutral tone makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts. When writing, ensure accurate tense usage and adjust the phrasing to alternatives like "they were departing" for formality or "they were heading out" for informality, as needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were departing

Replaces "leaving" with a more formal synonym, "departing".

they were going away

Uses a more general term, "going away", implying a less specific destination.

they were heading out

Suggests a more casual and immediate departure.

they were setting off

Emphasizes the start of a journey or trip.

they were making their exit

Highlights the act of exiting a place or situation.

they were vacating the premises

A formal way to express leaving a building or area.

they were abandoning the location

Indicates a more forceful or permanent departure.

they were withdrawing

Implies a retreat or pulling back from a situation or place.

they were running off

Suggests a hurried or perhaps secretive departure.

they were clearing out

Implies a complete and thorough departure, often with belongings.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they were leaving" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "they were departing" or "they were vacating the premises" depending on the context.

What's a more casual way to say "they were leaving"?

In informal contexts, you could say "they were heading out" or "they were going away".

Is there a difference between "they were leaving" and "they left"?

"They were leaving" implies an ongoing action in the past, while "they left" indicates a completed action. For example, "They were leaving when I saw them" versus "They left before I arrived."

When should I use "they were leaving" instead of "they are leaving"?

"They were leaving" is used for past events, while "they are leaving" refers to present or future actions. Use "they were leaving" when discussing something that happened in the past.