lease 1 of 2

noun

Definition of leasenext
as in property

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

lease

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rent
to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the landlord was willing to lease the apartment for less than we had expected

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum I couldn't afford to buy a car outright, so I decided to lease one instead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word lease different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lease are charter, hire, let, and rent. While all these words mean "to engage or grant for use at a price," lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease.

the diplomat leased an apartment for a year

When would charter be a good substitute for lease?

In some situations, the words charter and lease are roughly equivalent. However, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

How are the words hire and let related as synonyms of lease?

Both hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use.

we hired a car for the summer
decided to let the cottage to a young couple

In what contexts can rent take the place of lease?

Although the words rent and lease have much in common, rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting.

instead of buying a house, they decided to rent
will not rent to families with children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lease
Noun
The federal lease for Empire Wind was finalized during Trump's first term, in March 2017, AP reported. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 20 May 2025 Nugent tells The Denver Post by email that there will be overlap between the time the new space opens in fall 2025 and the lease expires at the original bakery in 2026. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
Verb
Late last year, Ark Restaurants, which owns the popular Bryant Park Grill, lost a contest to lease the space on the west side of the main branch of the New York Public Library between 42nd and 40th Streets. —Yuvraj Khanna, New York Times, 16 May 2025 The new bill, which specifically applies to Canadian citizens aged 50 and over who own or lease a U.S.-based residence, includes other new provisions, including prohibiting eligible Canadians from working for U.S. employers or accessing public benefits. —Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
  1. property
  2. rent
  3. hire
  4. tract
  5. development
Noun
  • The property is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection hotels.
    — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • This is different from market value, which is the cost for which the property would sell.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Definition of property
Verb
  • There are 51 overall with 31 available to rent ranging from cliffside suites to seven-bedroom estates such as the new 9.513 square foot Wings which is on the market for $32.5 million but also available to rent by the week and has six freestanding bedrooms each with its own plunge pool.
    — Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Go big and rent a jet ski or pontoon boat, or take things down a notch with a kayak or standup paddleboard—all of which are available through Young Harris Water Sports & RV.
    — Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
Definition of rent
Verb
  • Years earlier, in 1978, Lewis was charged in the murder of Raymond West, who had hired Lewis as an accountant, but poor police work killed any chance of a conviction.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2025
  • Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent maker Cameron Pictures has hired Karen Tsang as Vice President of Creative Affairs.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 May 2025
Definition of hire
Noun
  • Inflammatory conditions in the male reproductive tract are harmful to sperm production and function.
    — Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
  • This vibrant tract features a variety of Colorado and regionally native trees, shrubs, and perennials.
    — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 22 May 2025
Definition of tract
Noun
  • Officials argue that these developments render the settlement unnecessary and unconstitutional.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025
  • Brazil’s ability to anchor its economic development in the green transition is in large part a simple function of its resources.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 23 May 2025
Definition of development

Browse Nearby Words

leas
lease
leased
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on lease

Nglish: Translation of lease for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lease

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All