leave-taking
C1-C2Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
The act of saying goodbye; a farewell.
A formal or ceremonious departure; the concluding moment of a relationship, visit, or phase.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A single countable noun. Often implies a degree of formality, ceremony, or emotional weight.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly found in British English, particularly in formal or literary contexts. In American English, the simpler 'goodbye' or 'farewell' is more frequent.
Connotations
Both varieties share formal/literary connotations. In British usage, it may carry a slightly old-fashioned or genteel tone.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but higher in UK formal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the leave-taking of [person/group] from [place/person]a leave-taking [adjective] in natureat the moment of leave-takingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to bid someone a fond leave-taking”
- “to make one's leave-taking”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in formal announcements of a senior executive's departure.
Academic
Used in literary or historical analysis to describe farewell scenes.
Everyday
Very rare. Almost always replaced by 'goodbye(s)'.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The leave-taking ceremony was held at dawn.
American English
- He penned a leave-taking letter to his colleagues.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We said our goodbyes and left.
- After a tearful farewell at the station, she began her journey.
- The diplomat's formal leave-taking from the embassy was noted in the press.
- The novel's poignant final chapter centres on the protagonist's solitary leave-taking.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
To take your leave = to say goodbye → the act of that is LEAVE-TAKING.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEPARTURE IS A CONTAINED CEREMONY (e.g., 'The formal leave-taking was held in the hall').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить буквально как "взятие отпуска".
- Не является синонимом слова "отъезд" (departure) без аспекта прощания.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'there was many leave-taking').
- Using it in casual contexts where 'goodbye' is appropriate.
- Hyphenating incorrectly (e.g., 'leavetaking').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'leave-taking' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a single compound noun, almost always hyphenated.
It would sound excessively formal and possibly odd. 'Goodbye', 'all the best', or 'farewell' (if they are leaving) are more natural.
They are close synonyms. 'Leave-taking' often focuses more on the *act* of saying goodbye, while 'farewell' can also refer to the words spoken or the event itself. 'Leave-taking' is more formal and literary.
No. The related verb phrase is 'to take one's leave'.