leave behind
To accidentally forget something somewhere, or to move on so far that you pass others or escape from your past.
Meanings
To accidentally forget to take something or someone when you leave a place.
"I left my umbrella behind at the restaurant."
To progress or advance so quickly that others cannot keep up.
"China has left many Western competitors behind in the field of solar panel manufacturing."
To escape from or stop being affected by a past situation, period, or identity.
"After therapy, she was finally able to leave her anxiety behind."
"We will not go back. We will not leave our values behind."
— Barack Obama, 2012 Democratic National Convention speech
To leave a lasting mark, legacy, or effect after departing or dying.
"The artist left behind a collection of over 300 paintings."
Very versatile: can be literal (forgetting an object), competitive (surpassing others), or emotional (escaping the past). All senses are common across registers.
Commonly used with
Forms
Understand "leave behind" better
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Synonyms
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "leave behind" on Looplines