Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To depart from a place without taking someone or something: To go away and not bring along a person, animal, or object.
   • To cause to remain as a result or in one's wake: To produce a situation, condition, or feeling that persists after one has gone.
   • To survive someone in death: To remain alive after another person has died, often in the context of being a surviving relative.

Usage and Examples

• Literal meaning (depart without taking):

  • I accidentally left behind my passport at the hotel.
  • The hikers were forced to leave behind their heavy backpacks.

• Figurative meaning (cause to remain as a result):

  • The storm left behind a trail of destruction.
  • Her speech left behind a feeling of great inspiration.

• Meaning related to death (survive):

  • He left behind a wife and three young children.
  • The famous artist left behind a vast collection of paintings.

Advanced Usage

• "to be/get left behind": To be abandoned or to fail to keep pace with others.
  • During the rapid technological changes, some industries risk being left behind.
  • The slowest runner was left behind by the rest of the group.

Variants and Related Words

• Leave (verb): The base form, meaning to go away from.
• Leaving (noun/gerund): The act of departing.

Synonyms

• Abandon: To cease to support or look after; desert.
• Forsake: To abandon or leave entirely.
• Outlive: To live longer than; survive.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Leave off: To stop doing something.
  • Please leave off making that noise.
• Leave out: To omit or not include.
  • She left out an important detail from her report.

Related Idioms

• Leave someone/something in the dust: To surpass someone or something completely, often leaving them far behind.
  • Their new product innovation left all their competitors in the dust.
• Leave a legacy: To be remembered for something one has done, often after death.
  • He hoped to leave a legacy of environmental conservation.

Verb

1. leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking
   • leave it as is
   • leave the young fawn alone
   • leave the flowers that you see in the park behind
2. be survived by after one's death
   • He left six children
   • At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats
3. depart and not take along
   • He left behind all his possessions when he moved to Europe