What are the definitions of “leave behind”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1To forget or stop thinking about something.
Being in a bad mood about something that happened at work is not something you leave behind once you shut your office door.
- 2To fail to keep up with others or make progress.
Fashion houses who aren't designing clothes for bigger bodies are going to be left behind.
- 3To abandon or not take someone or something with you when you leave a place.
He had to leave his family behind in Chile.
- 4To provide or leave something for someone, especially in a will or as a legacy.
My mum's worked hard all her life and now has something to leave behind for her kids which is very important to her.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “leave behind”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb leave behind is to forget or not take someone or something with you when you leave a place. For example, it can mean forgetting your phone at home, not taking your umbrella when it's raining, or leaving a person at a location.
What are the different verb forms of “leave behind”?
| Root Verb | leave behind |
| Third Person Singular Present | leaves behind |
| Present Participle | leaving behind |
| Simple Past | left behind |
| Past Participle | left behind |
Example
I always leave behind my keys when I'm in a hurry.
Example
She leaves behind her wallet every time she goes shopping.
Example
He is leaving behind his old life and starting fresh in a new city.
Example
Yesterday, they left behind their luggage at the hotel.
Example
The forgotten toys were left behind in the playground.
What kind of phrasal verb is “leave behind”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“leave behind” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She left behind her phone at home.
Example
He left his family behind when he moved to another country.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“leave behind” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She left behind her phone at home.
Example
He left his family behind when he moved to another country.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “leave behind”?
Good things to know
Does “leave behind” have an informal or formal tone?
Leave behind is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations, as well as in more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
