leave behind

To forget to take something with you when you leave a place.

• I left my keys behind.
• She realized she had left her bag behind on the bus.
• Did you leave your umbrella behind?

How to use it: leave something behind (I left my phone behind at the café.)

Similar words: forget

Common phrases: leave behind something, leave behind your keys

To go away without taking someone or something with you.

• They left their luggage behind.
• The family fled and left behind most of their possessions.
• We cannot leave the injured man behind.

How to use it: leave someone/something behind (We had to leave our furniture behind when we moved.)

Similar words: abandon, leave

Opposites: take along

Common phrases: leave behind someone, leave behind something

To cause a mark, effect, or other sign to remain after something has gone or ended.

• The injury left behind a scar.
• Wet shoes leave muddy footprints behind.
• The storm has left behind widespread damage.

How to use it: leave something behind (The fire left a strong smell behind.)

Similar words: leave, produce

Common phrases: leave behind a scar, leave behind traces, leave behind something

When someone dies, their family members or other people remain alive.

• She left behind two sons.
• When he died, he left behind a wife and three children.
• The accident victims left behind grieving families.

How to use it: leave someone behind (He died young, leaving his wife and daughter behind.)

Similar words: be survived by

Common phrases: leave behind children, leave behind a family

To develop, improve, or move faster than someone else, so they cannot keep up.

• She left the other runners behind.
• Rapid advances have left older technology behind.
• Will smaller businesses be left behind as the industry changes?

How to use it: leave someone/something behind (The new company has left its competitors behind.)

Similar words: outpace, surpass, outstrip

Opposites: trail

Common phrases: leave behind competitors, leave behind someone

To travel beyond a place or feature, so that it is now behind you.

• We soon left the city behind.
• The train left the mountains behind and entered a wide plain.
• Have we left the coast behind yet?

How to use it: leave something behind (We left the town behind and drove into the hills.)

Similar words: pass, move beyond

Common phrases: leave behind the city, leave behind something