was leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing what someone did in the past. For example: "She was leaving the party when I saw her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He was leaving school.

The New Yorker

Or he was leaving her.

The New Yorker

And yet he was leaving.

The New York Times

The truck was leaving, slowly.

The New Yorker

His heat was leaving him.

The New Yorker

The trick was leaving.

The New York Times - Sports

"Everything was leaving".

The New York Times

I was leaving.

The New Yorker

Last month, he announced he was leaving.

The New York Times

"He never told anybody he was leaving.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

So, what was left?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was leaving" to describe an action in progress in the past, providing context about the timing of the departure.

Common error

Avoid using "was leave" instead of "was leaving". The correct form requires the present participle (leaving) to follow the auxiliary verb "was".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was leaving" functions as the past continuous tense of the verb "leave". It describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable English construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was leaving" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to denote an action of departing that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and frequently employed phrase in the English language, particularly within News & Media contexts. Remember to avoid common errors such as using "was leave" instead. By understanding its proper usage and exploring alternatives like "was departing" and "was going away", you can effectively communicate nuanced meanings related to departure in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was departing

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

was going away

Substitutes "leaving" with the more descriptive phrase "going away".

was heading out

Uses a more casual and informal expression for "leaving".

was exiting

Replaces "leaving" with a synonym that emphasizes the act of going out.

was in the process of leaving

Adds emphasis to the action of leaving, indicating it was underway.

was about to leave

Indicates an imminent departure.

was setting off

Uses a phrase that suggests the start of a journey.

was withdrawing

Suggests a more formal or subtle departure.

was pulling out

Emphasizes the act of physically removing oneself from a place or situation.

was abandoning

Implies a more definitive and permanent departure, often with negative connotations.

FAQs

How do I use "was leaving" in a sentence?

Use "was leaving" to describe an action of departing that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "She "was leaving" the office when the phone rang".

What are some alternatives to "was leaving"?

You can use alternatives like "was departing", "was going away", or "was heading out", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was leave" instead of "was leaving"?

No, "was leave" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""was leaving"", which uses the past continuous tense.

What's the difference between "was leaving" and "left"?

"Was leaving" describes an action in progress, while "left" indicates a completed action. For example, "She "was leaving" when I saw her" (the act of leaving was ongoing), versus "She "left" before I arrived" (the action of leaving is completed).