leaving
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The action of going away from or departing a place, person, group, or situation.
The act of permanently ceasing membership in an organization, relationship, or state (e.g., leaving a job, leaving a spouse). It also denotes what remains, as in a residue or aftermath (e.g., the leavings of a meal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
'Leaving' as a gerund/noun can refer to both the process/act of departure and the state resulting from it. It often implies a permanent or significant change of state, not just a temporary absence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb form is used identically. As a noun, 'leaving do' (UK) is equivalent to 'farewell party' (US). The noun 'leavings' (remnants) is less common in US everyday speech.
Connotations
Similar core connotations. In formal/official contexts, 'departure' might be slightly preferred in both variants.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects as the present participle/gerund of the high-frequency verb 'leave'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] leaving [NP] (e.g., 'John leaving the company')[NP] leaving [NP] [AdjP/PP] (e.g., 'leaving the door open', 'leaving him in charge')[NP] leaving for [NP] (e.g., 'leaving for London')[NP] leaving [NP] to [VP] (e.g., 'leaving it to simmer')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “leaving someone high and dry”
- “leaving no stone unturned”
- “leaving a lot to be desired”
- “take it or leave it”
- “leave well enough alone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for employee turnover: 'The leaving process must be documented.' 'We have a high rate of staff leaving.'
Academic
Often used in social sciences discussing migration ('rural leaving'), or in literary analysis ('the theme of leaving and return').
Everyday
Very common for daily routines: 'I'm leaving now.' 'His leaving was very emotional.'
Technical
In computing: 'leaving a network', 'packet leaving a router'. In chemistry: 'leaving group' (a fragment that departs in a reaction).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She is leaving her job at the end of the month.
- The train is leaving from platform four.
- He's always leaving his muddy boots in the hall.
American English
- She's leaving her job at the end of the month.
- The flight is leaving from gate B12.
- Quit leaving your dirty dishes in the sink.
adverb
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb. Use 'on leaving' or 'upon leaving'.)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adverb. Use 'on leaving' or 'upon leaving'.)
adjective
British English
- The leaving ceremony was quite moving.
- All leaving staff must return their keys.
- We held a leaving do for her last Friday.
American English
- The leaving ceremony was very emotional.
- All departing employees must return their badges.
- We had a farewell party for him.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I am leaving now. Goodbye!
- The bus is leaving in five minutes.
- She is leaving the room.
- His sudden leaving surprised everyone.
- Are you thinking of leaving the city?
- After leaving school, he started an apprenticeship.
- The manager addressed the rumours about her leaving the firm.
- Leaving the comfort zone is essential for personal growth.
- Upon leaving the premises, please ensure all lights are switched off.
- Her leaving constituted a significant loss of expertise for the department.
- The political fallout from the minister's leaving continues to dominate the headlines.
- The concept of 'voluntary leaving' is central to this employment law case.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a train LEAVING a station: the long 'EE' sound in the engine, and the 'ING' is the sound of the wheels on the tracks as it goes.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEAVING IS A JOURNEY (embarking on a new path), LEAVING IS CUTTING TIES (severing a connection), LEAVING IS ABANDONMENT (giving up responsibility).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'уходить' as 'leaving' in every context, especially for temporary actions like 'уходить с работы' (going home from work) which is better as 'finishing work'. 'Leaving' often implies finality.
- Confusing 'leaving' with 'living' (/lɪvɪŋ/) due to spelling similarity. Focus on the long /i:/ vs short /ɪ/ vowel sound.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is leaving in Monday.' Correct: 'He is leaving on Monday.' (Preposition error)
- Incorrect: 'I look forward to your leaving.' (Formally correct but often avoided due to awkwardness). More common: 'I look forward to you leaving' or 'to your departure.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'leavings' most appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily the present participle and gerund form of the verb 'to leave'. As a gerund (e.g., 'Leaving is difficult'), it functions as a noun. The separate noun 'leaving(s)' meaning 'remnants' also exists but is less common.
They are often synonyms. 'Leaving' is more common, general, and can be informal. 'Departure' is slightly more formal and is often used for scheduled transport (flight/train departure) or in official contexts.
Use 'leaving for' to indicate the destination you are going to. E.g., 'I am leaving for Paris' means Paris is your destination. Do not confuse it with 'leaving from', which indicates the starting point.
Yes, this is common. The present continuous can describe a future, planned departure, even if it's permanent: 'He is leaving the country next year.' It describes the action in progress towards that endpoint.