left Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
    • she stood on the left
  2. noun those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare
    left wing.
  3. noun the hand that is on the left side of the body
    left hand.
    • jab with your left
  4. noun the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left
    left field; leftfield.
    • the batter flied out to left
  5. noun a turn toward the side of the body that is on the north when the person is facing east
    • take a left at the corner
  6. verb go away from a place
    leave; go away; go forth.
    • At what time does your train leave?
    • She didn't leave until midnight
    • The ship leaves at midnight
  7. verb go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness
    leave.
    • She left a mess when she moved out
    • His good luck finally left him
    • her husband left her after 20 years of marriage
    • she wept thinking she had been left behind
  8. verb act or be so as to become in a specified state
    leave.
    • The inflation left them penniless
    • The president's remarks left us speechless
  9. verb leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking
    leave; leave behind; leave alone.
    • leave it as is
    • leave the young fawn alone
    • leave the flowers that you see in the park behind
  10. verb move out of or depart from
    leave; go out; exit; get out.
    • leave the room
    • the fugitive has left the country
  11. verb make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain
    leave; provide; allow for; allow.
    • This leaves no room for improvement
    • The evidence allows only one conclusion
    • allow for mistakes
    • leave lots of time for the trip
    • This procedure provides for lots of leeway
  12. verb have as a result or residue
    leave; result; lead.
    • The water left a mark on the silk dress
    • Her blood left a stain on the napkin
  13. verb remove oneself from an association with or participation in
    leave; pull up stakes; depart.
    • She wants to leave
    • The teenager left home
    • She left her position with the Red Cross
    • He left the Senate after two terms
    • after 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes
  14. verb put into the care or protection of someone
    leave; entrust.
    • He left the decision to his deputy
    • leave your child the nurse's care
  15. verb leave or give by will after one's death
    will; leave; bequeath.
    • My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry
    • My grandfather left me his entire estate
  16. verb have left or have as a remainder
    leave.
    • That left the four of us
    • 19 minus 8 leaves 11
  17. verb be survived by after one's death
    leave; leave behind.
    • He left six children
    • At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats
  18. verb transmit (knowledge or skills)
    leave; give; pass on; impart.
    • give a secret to the Russians
    • leave your name and address here
    • impart a new skill to the students
  19. verb leave behind unintentionally
    leave; forget.
    • I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant
    • I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors
  20. adjective being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north
    • my left hand
    • left center field
    • the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream
  21. adjective satellite not used up
    left over; unexpended; leftover; odd; remaining.
    • leftover meatloaf
    • she had a little money left over so she went to a movie
    • some odd dollars left
    • saved the remaining sandwiches for supper
    • unexpended provisions
  22. adjective satellite intended for the left hand
    left-hand.
    • I rarely lose a left-hand glove
  23. adjective of or belonging to the political or intellectual left
  24. adverb toward or on the left; also used figuratively
    • he looked right and left
    • the political party has moved left

WordNet

Left imperfect & past participle
Definitions
  1. of Leave.
Left adjective
Etymology
OE. left, lift, luft; akin to Fries. leeft, OD.lucht, luft; cf. AS.left (equiv. to L. inanis), lyftadl palsy; or cf. AS.lf weak.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; -- opposed to right, when used in reference to a part of the body; as, the left ear. Also said of the corresponding side of the lower animals.
Left noun
Definitions
  1. that part of surrounding space toward which the left side of one's body is turned; as, the house is on the left when you face North.
    Put that rose a little more to the left. Ld. Lytton.
  2. those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who are in the opposition; the advanced republicans and extreme radicals. They have their seats at the left-hand side of the presiding officer. See Center, and Right. now used of any group advocating a leftist policy -- which is variously interpeted, as meaning "radical", "liberal", "reformist", "anti-establishment" "advocating change in the name of greater freedom or well-being of the common man[MW10]" -- opposed to rightist, and in the "liberal" interpretation, opposed to "conservative".

Webster 1913