English Reference

Phrasal verb

leave out

Definition

phrasal verb. to not include someone or something; to omit a part of something.

phrasal verb. to exclude or omit (a person, thing, or detail) from a group, list, or text; transitive phrasal verb with separable particles.

Examples

“Don't leave out the important details.”

“The teacher asked the students not to leave out any steps in the experiment.”

“The editor decided to leave out the controversial paragraph to maintain the book's neutrality.”

Examples

simple

“Don't leave out the important details.”

contextual

“The teacher asked the students not to leave out any steps in the experiment.”

complex

“The editor decided to leave out the controversial paragraph to maintain the book's neutrality.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “leave out” in context.

Verb

01. accidentally leave out a word

“I accidentally left out a word in the second sentence, so it doesn't make sense.”

adv + verb + noun

02. leave out the important details

“Please don't leave out the important details when you tell the story to the manager.”

verb + noun

03. leave out the last chapter

“The teacher decided to leave out the last chapter because we ran out of time.”

verb + noun

Preposition

04. feel left out of the group

“She felt left out of the group when they all went to the cinema without asking her.”

verb + adj + prep + noun

Adverb

05. deliberately leave out the truth

“He deliberately left out the truth to avoid getting into trouble with his parents.”

adv + verb + noun

06. often leave out the salt

“I often leave out the salt when I cook to make the meals healthier.”

adv + verb + noun

Usage

takes a direct object — the thing or person being excluded.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'exclude' (more formal) and 'omit' (more academic); 'leave out' is separable, allowing both 'leave the details out' and 'leave out the details'.

Phrasal verb

Particles

out

Separability

separable

Pattern

leave + out + object or leave + object + out

Synonyms

omitexcludeleave asideskip

Antonyms

includeaddincorporate

Grammar

Phrasal verbs (introduction)

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/leave-out
English Reference