lease 1 of 2

noun

Definition of leasenext
as in property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
But the 2021 lease sale was a bust, with none of the top oil producers in the state participating. —Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025 Ruth, whose name was not on the lease, could not afford to stay by herself. —Jonah Markowitz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
Under the offer, the foundation would lease the property to Preston High School for 25 years at $1 per year, with the option for the school to buy it in the future. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Dublin’s Field of Vision, which also uses a magnetic ball, currently leases tablets to rugby and football stadiums in Dublin and Melbourne, Australia. Field of Vision’s tactile tablet. —Russell Leung, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease
  1. property
  2. rent
  3. hire
  4. tract
  5. development
Noun
  • This legendary property opened its doors in 1920 and has hosted presidents, celebrities, and other famous guests throughout the years.
    — Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Villegas arrived at his property to discover that small furniture from around the house had been relocated to the garage, and some items were missing entirely.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of property
Verb
  • In between the time Tillman was killed and her body was discovered, the resort rented the room to guests who did not know the body was in the closet, a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told the Miami Herald.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
  • If the museum later rents out space, licenses its brand or monetizes the new facility in other ways, investors could see a return on their participation.
    — Larry Bomback, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rent
Verb
  • To this point, much of the flak created by key contract talks dragging on has flown the way of Hughes, the man Liverpool’s owners at Fenway Sports Group hired for the post-Jurgen Klopp era.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
  • When Bruce Boudreau needed to hire an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks in 2014, one of his top candidates was already inside the organization.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of hire
Noun
  • How antibiotics can affect your gut bacteria Antibiotics are medications prescribed to treat many different types of bacterial infections, like sinus infections, strep throat, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic infections, and bacterial vaginosis (BV).
    — Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025
  • There are a lot more mice, rabbits, raccoons, and opossums in the brush between houses than in large tracts of underdeveloped forests.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of tract
Noun
  • Compelled by the early data, Ricks decided in 2018 to license the development and commercialization of the drug.
    — Alice Park, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The city’s investments and partnerships have led to reductions in crime, student improvements in the classroom, and the development of a health clinic set to open this summer, Crain said.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of development

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lease

Nglish: Translation of lease for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lease

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