Definitions
01the side or direction
A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun
n. the side of your body that is toward the west when you face north.
n. the side or direction that is the opposite of right; the side on which the heart is typically located.
日本語:左※
Español:izquierda
“In the UK, people drive on the left side of the road.”
“The museum entrance is located on the left, just past the main fountain in the courtyard.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02political group
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Politics
n. people or political parties that support social equality and change.
n. the collective group of political parties and individuals who hold liberal, socialist, or progressive views.
“The political left gained more support during the recent election.”
“The candidate's policies were designed to appeal to the traditional left while maintaining a moderate stance on trade.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03located on the left
A1 · Beginner
adj. on or towards the side of your body that is not the right.
adj. pertaining to or located on the side of the body which is toward the west when facing north.
日本語:左※
“She has a small scar on her left hand from a childhood accident.”
“The left wing of the building was added in the nineteenth century to accommodate the growing library collection.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04towards the left
A1 · Beginner
adv. towards the left side.
adv. in the direction of the left side.
Español:a la izquierda
“Turn left at the next traffic light to find the car park.”
“The pilot banked left to avoid the storm clouds gathering over the valley.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “left” in context.
Etymology
From Middle English left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from Old English left, lyft (“weak, clumsy, foolish”), attested in Old English lyftādl (“palsy, paralysis”), from Proto-Germanic luft-, from lubjaną (“to castrate, lop off”) (compare dialectal English lib, West Frisian lobje, Dutch lubben), from Proto-Indo-European (s)lewp-, (s)lup- (“hanging limply”). Compare Scots left (“left”), North Frisian lefts, leeft, leefts (“left”), West Frisian lofts (“left”), obsolete Dutch lucht, leftsch, lefts, lefs (“left”), dialectal Dutch loof (“weak, worthless”), archaic Low German lucht (“left”).
From Middle English left, variant of laft (“remaining, left”), from Old English lǣfd, ġelǣfd, past participle of lǣfan (“to leave”). More at leave.
From Middle English levit, ilevet, y-levyd, from Old English ġelȳfd, ġelȳfed, past participle of Old English ġelȳfan, lȳfan (“to allow, permit”), equivalent to leave (“to give leave to, allow, grant, permit”) + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
03. Elvis has left the building
04. exit stage left
05. go left
07. left turn
08. two left feet
09. two left hands
Domains
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/left
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0