Phrase guide

leave for dead

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To abandon a person or other living creature that is injured or otherwise incapacitated, assuming that the death of the one abandoned will soon follow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To disregard or bypass as unimportant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 見死不救 /见死不救 (jiànsǐbùjiù) — to abandon considering death
  • Chinese Mandarin: 置之死地 (zhìzhīsǐdì) — to abandon considering death
  • Finnish: jättää kuolemaan — to abandon considering death
  • French: laisser pour mort — to abandon considering death
  • German: zum Sterben zurücklassen — to abandon considering death
  • Polish: pozostawiać na śmierć — to abandon considering death
  • Polish: pozostawić na śmierć — to abandon considering death