left
A1Universal (common in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
The opposite of right; the west side of one's body when facing north; past tense/participle of 'to leave' meaning to go away from or depart.
Describing the remaining side or part after others have been taken or used; also used in politics to describe a progressive or socialist ideology (from the seating of revolutionaries on the left side of the French National Assembly).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The spatial sense and the verb form are homonyms with entirely different origins and meanings. Context is crucial for disambiguation. The political sense is a metaphorical extension of the spatial sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Minor spelling preferences in compounds (e.g., 'left-hand side' vs. 'left side').
Connotations
Political sense is identical. Verb form usage is identical.
Frequency
Both forms are equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] left [NP][NP] left [NP] [PP/ADJ][NP] was left [PP/ADJ][NP] left for [PLACE]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “left, right and centre”
- “out in left field”
- “left holding the bag”
- “two left feet”
- “left in the lurch”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We have three units left in stock.' 'He left the company last quarter.'
Academic
'The data left after filtering was analysed.' 'This argument is associated with the left of the political spectrum.'
Everyday
'Turn left at the traffic lights.' 'I left my keys on the table.'
Technical
'Apply torque in a left-hand thread.' 'The patient has left-side hemiparesis.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She left her umbrella on the train.
- The meeting finished early, so we left for the pub.
American English
- He left his car at the airport.
- She left the company to pursue other opportunities.
adverb
British English
- Go left at the roundabout.
- He looked left and right before crossing.
American English
- After the bridge, bear left.
- The political spectrum shifted left.
adjective
British English
- Write your name in the left-hand margin.
- He broke his left leg playing football.
American English
- Make a left turn at the next light.
- Her left shoe was missing.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My school is on the left.
- She left home at eight o'clock.
- I have two apples left.
- There were only a few biscuits left in the packet.
- He turned left onto a narrow street.
- The left side of the painting is darker.
- The government's new policies have been criticised by the left.
- After everyone had taken a slice, half the cake was left.
- She was left with a feeling of profound disappointment.
- The referendum result caused a realignment within the left of the party.
- The theory is often considered to be out in left field by mainstream scholars.
- His will left the bulk of his estate to charitable foundations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Your LEFT hand makes an 'L' with its thumb and index finger (when held correctly). To remember the verb: if you've LEFT, the place is now empty, and only what's LEFT remains.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEFT IS BAD/UNSKILLED (e.g., 'a left-handed compliment'), LEFT IS PROGRESSIVE/REVOLUTIONARY (political left), LEFT IS REMAINING/RESIDUAL (e.g., 'leftover food').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'left' (adjective/adverb) with 'to leave' (verb). They are separate words in Russian: 'левый' vs. 'оставить/уйти'.
- The political 'left' does not perfectly align with Russian political terminology and carries different historical connotations.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'leave' instead of 'left' for the past tense (e.g., 'He leave yesterday' ❌).
- Confusing 'left' and 'right' in directions.
- Using 'left' to mean 'let' (e.g., 'He left me go' ❌ instead of 'He let me go' ✅).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'His comments came from left field,' what does 'left field' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'leave' is an irregular verb. Its principal parts are: leave (present) - left (past) - left (past participle).
'Left' simply means remaining. 'Left over' specifically refers to something that remains after the rest has been used, finished, or taken, often implying it is surplus or extra (e.g., leftover food).
Historically, the left side was often associated with bad luck, weakness, or the sinister (from Latin 'sinistra' meaning 'left'). This bias is reflected in many languages and idioms.
Check its position and function in the sentence. An adjective typically comes before a noun ('the left door'). A verb typically indicates an action and follows a subject ('She left the room').
Collections
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Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.