leave behind
B1Neutral to slightly formal; common in both spoken and written English.
Definition
Meaning
To intentionally or unintentionally fail to bring someone or something with you when you depart from a place.
To progress beyond a person, idea, or situation, making them seem outdated or forgotten; to abandon or forsake, often in a permanent or emotional sense.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote physical abandonment (objects, people) or metaphorical surpassing (ideas, eras). Often carries a connotation of permanence or significant consequence. The particle 'behind' is essential to this phrasal verb's meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. Lexical choice in surrounding context may differ (e.g., 'boot' vs. 'trunk').
Connotations
Slightly more formal in UK English in certain contexts (e.g., 'leave behind a legacy'). In US English, can be more frequently used in emotional/personal contexts.
Frequency
Comparatively equal in frequency; core usage is identical.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] leave behind [Object][Subject] leave [Object] behindVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Leave the past behind”
- “Leave someone in the dust”
- “Leave no stone unturned (contrasting idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new strategy aims to leave behind outdated practices.'
Academic
'The theory leaves behind several unresolved paradoxes.'
Everyday
'I think I left my keys behind at the cafe.'
Technical
'The rover was left behind on the Martian surface.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't leave your umbrella behind; it's going to rain.
- The policy will leave behind a divided community.
American English
- Did you leave your phone behind in the car?
- We can't leave behind the lessons of the past.
adjective
British English
- The left-behind communities felt neglected by the government.
- A suitcase left behind on the platform.
American English
- The left-behind gloves were turned in to lost and found.
- Addressing the needs of left-behind rural towns.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I left my bag behind on the bus.
- Please don't leave me behind!
- He left behind a note on the kitchen table.
- The storm left behind a lot of damage.
- The revolution sought to leave behind centuries of tradition.
- She worked hard to leave her competitors behind.
- The novel leaves behind the conventions of its genre, embracing a radical new form.
- Technological advances have left behind a significant portion of the workforce.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person LEAVING a room and a large BEHIND (buttocks) shape painted on the floor where they were sitting – they've literally left a 'behind' there. This silly image links the action of departing (leave) with the idea of something remaining (behind).
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY FORWARD (leaving the past/obstacles behind). CHANGE IS MOVEMENT AWAY FROM A LOCATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'оставить позади' for physical objects; 'forget' (забыть) is often more natural. For abstract surpassing, 'превзойти' or 'перерасти' may be better fits than a literal translation.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'leave' alone when 'behind' is needed for the abandonment meaning (e.g., 'I left my book' vs. 'I left my book behind'). Incorrect word order: 'leave behind it' instead of 'leave it behind'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The new model leaves the old one behind,' what is the primary meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Leave' is broader (to go away from). 'Leave behind' specifically emphasizes the act of causing someone/something to remain in a place, often with a sense of permanence or unintended consequence.
Yes, very commonly. You can leave behind a legacy, a bad habit, an era, or a feeling.
Yes, as in 'left-behind communities' or 'left-behind property,' describing things or groups that have been abandoned or overlooked.
The pronoun must go between the verb and the particle. Correct: 'leave it behind'. Incorrect: 'leave behind it'.