lease
1 of 2noun
ˈlēs 
1
: a contract by which one conveys real estate, equipment, or facilities for a specified term and for a specified rent
took out a five-year lease on the house
also : the act of such conveyance or the term for which it is made
2
: a piece of land or property that is leased
3
: a continuance or opportunity for continuance
a new lease on life
lease
2 of 2verb
leased; leasing
transitive verb
1
: to grant by lease
2
: to hold under a lease
leasable
ˈlē-sə-bəl
adjective 
Synonyms
Verb
- let [chiefly British]
- rent
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun They took out a five-year lease on the house. We hold leases on both of our cars. Verb She leases a red convertible. I have leased this house for the last four years. We leased the house to a young married couple.
Recent Examples on the Web
Timothy Puko, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Homeowners do not own their lots and pay a monthly land lease fee, neighborhood association dues as well as property taxes. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Low availability is pushing lease rates for apartments with rent up 12% when compared to last year. John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 13 Sep. 2022 The city and the team will have, once an exclusive negotiating agreement is signed, around two years to hammer out lease and development terms. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 The plan was for a 24,000-square-foot full-service grocery store, filling the looming grocery gap in South Madison as the nearby Pick N’ Save’s lease is set to expire. Lauryn Azu And Joe States, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Airlines help pay for airport projects through lease payments and landing fees. Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Cineworld had built up $4.8 billion in net debt, not including lease liabilities. Michelle Chapman, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2022 The next year, lease negotiations between the Saters and T.T. Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2022 The University of Colorado study found that at least five other Lower Basin tribes either actively lease water or have the authority to market water. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 The deal ends a yearslong struggle over whether the Republican broke state law by using campaign funds to buy a house, lease luxury cars and join a private club. Jeff Amy, ajc, 12 May 2022 Another sign of change is a decision by Victoria’s Secret to lease and build out an open-office space in New York City, meant to encourage openness and debate among employees. Khadeeja Safdar, WSJ, 13 Aug. 2022 Hickok is quoted in the lawsuit as pointing out that Borrego Health’s billing and lease agreements with companies owned by Priest were improperly secretive and way too expensive. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 Biden has laid out a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, with auctions of territory near California expected later this year, and, ultimately, lease sales on almost every U.S. coast. Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 20 July 2022 Frontier owns the physical fiber infrastructure that spans across vast parts of the state but Verizon and other carriers lease the technology to provide their service to thousands of customers. Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022 Global will also lease a section of the property on the west side of Route 1A, including a dock on Chelsea Creek; there are no immediate plans to redevelop the waterfront part of the site. BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2022 See More
Noun
The move concludes what had been the federal government’s largest oil-and-gas lease offering in history, resolving nearly a year of conflict, after the sale originally happened last November and triggered months of court and political wrangling. Timothy Puko, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Homeowners do not own their lots and pay a monthly land lease fee, neighborhood association dues as well as property taxes. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Low availability is pushing lease rates for apartments with rent up 12% when compared to last year. John Magsam, Arkansas Online, 13 Sep. 2022 The city and the team will have, once an exclusive negotiating agreement is signed, around two years to hammer out lease and development terms. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 The plan was for a 24,000-square-foot full-service grocery store, filling the looming grocery gap in South Madison as the nearby Pick N’ Save’s lease is set to expire. Lauryn Azu And Joe States, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Airlines help pay for airport projects through lease payments and landing fees. Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Cineworld had built up $4.8 billion in net debt, not including lease liabilities. Michelle Chapman, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2022 The next year, lease negotiations between the Saters and T.T. Catherine Carlock, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
Giving the 80 or so business owners who lease space inside the 308 S. Mclean Blvd. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2022 The University of Colorado study found that at least five other Lower Basin tribes either actively lease water or have the authority to market water. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 The deal ends a yearslong struggle over whether the Republican broke state law by using campaign funds to buy a house, lease luxury cars and join a private club. Jeff Amy, ajc, 12 May 2022 Another sign of change is a decision by Victoria’s Secret to lease and build out an open-office space in New York City, meant to encourage openness and debate among employees. Khadeeja Safdar, WSJ, 13 Aug. 2022 Hickok is quoted in the lawsuit as pointing out that Borrego Health’s billing and lease agreements with companies owned by Priest were improperly secretive and way too expensive. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2022 Biden has laid out a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, with auctions of territory near California expected later this year, and, ultimately, lease sales on almost every U.S. coast. Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 20 July 2022 Frontier owns the physical fiber infrastructure that spans across vast parts of the state but Verizon and other carriers lease the technology to provide their service to thousands of customers. Lacey Latch, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2022 Global will also lease a section of the property on the west side of Route 1A, including a dock on Chelsea Creek; there are no immediate plans to redevelop the waterfront part of the site. BostonGlobe.com, 30 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English les, from Anglo-French, from lesser
Verb
Anglo-French lesser, laisser, lescher to leave, hand over, lease, from Latin laxare to loosen, from laxus slack — more at slack
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
circa 1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing lease
Kids Definition
lease 1 of 2
noun
ˈlēs
1
: an agreement by which a person exchanges property (as a car or house) for a period of time in return for payment or services
2
: a piece of property that is leased
lease
2 of 2verb
leased; leasing
: to give or get the use of (property) in return for payment or services
Legal Definition
lease 1 of 2
noun
ˈlēs
1
a
: a contract by which an owner of property conveys exclusive possession, control, use, or enjoyment of it for a specified rent and a specified term after which the property reverts to the owner
also : the act of such conveyance or the term for which it is made see also sublease compare easement, license, security interest at interest sense 1, tenancy
Note: Article 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code, which governs leases where adopted, defines lease as “a transfer of the right to possession and use of goods for a term in return for consideration.”
— building lease
: ground lease in this entry
— consumer lease
: a lease made by a lessor regularly engaged in the selling or leasing of a product to a lessee who is leasing the product primarily for his or her personal or household use
— finance lease
: a lease in which the lessor acquires goods from a supplier in accordance with the specifications of the lessee
Note: Under section 2A-103 of the Uniform Commercial Code, before the lessor signs the lease or the lease becomes effective, the lessee must receive a copy of or approve of the contract by which the goods were acquired or must receive a statement of terms (as warranties, disclaimers, and liquidated damages) relating to the contract or notification of where such information can be obtained.
— ground lease
: a lease of land usually for a long term in consideration of the payment of rent and with the agreement that the lessee build or improve a structure on the land
called also building lease
— mineral lease
: a lease granting the right to work a mine and extract the minerals or other valuable deposits from it under prescribed conditions (as of time, price, or royalties)
called also mining lease
— net lease
: a lease requiring the lessee to assume all operation expenses (as for maintenance, insurance, and taxes) in addition to the payment of rent
— operating lease
: a lease of property and especially equipment for a term which is shorter than the property's useful life and in which the lessor is responsible for certain expenses (as taxes)
— perpetual lease \\ pər-ˈpe-chu̇-wəl- \\
: a lease renewable forever at the lessee's option
— proprietary lease
: a lease used to convey to a member of a cooperative the exclusive possession of a residential unit
— true lease
: a lease that resembles a security agreement but retains the attributes of a lease
b
: property and especially real property that is leased
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract by which a person provides labor or services for a price
lease
2 of 2verb
leased; leasing
transitive verb
1
: to grant by lease to another
leases mopeds to tourists
2
: to hold under a lease
a company leasing a fleet of cars for its executives
intransitive verb
1
: to be under a lease or subject to a lease
the vacation house leases for $500 a week
2
: to grant property by a lease
have leased to students in the past
releases 1 of 2
verb
1
as in unleashes
to set free (from a state of being held in check) the losing player released his anger with a great yell of frustration Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- unleashes
- loosens
- unlocks
- uncorks
- unlooses
- liberates
- expresses
- looses
- manumits
- lets go
- unloosens
- airs
- discharges
- frees
- springs
- unbinds
- emancipates
- uncages
- enfranchises
- unshackles
- unfetters
- vents
- unchains
- unmoors
- takes out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- contains
- holds
- checks
- controls
- restrains
- governs
- regulates
- inhibits
- constrains
- reins (in)
- smothers
- curbs
- binds
- tames
- confines
- shackles
- fetters
- bridles
- hampers
- handcuffs
- trammels
- enchains
- manacles
- halters
2
as in acts out
to find emotional release for tried to find other ways of releasing tension than by chewing her fingernails Synonyms & Similar Words
- unleashes
- acts out
- vents
- gives way (to)
- voices
- looses
- airs
- expresses
- takes out
- states
- ventilates
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- represses
- manages
- handles
- suppresses
- controls
- contains
- checks
- governs
- restrains
- holds back
- constrains
- bottles (up)
- reins (in)
- stills
- smothers
- curbs
- lulls
- represses
- swallows
- inhibits
- quells
- tames
- chokes
- soothes
- allays
- quiets
- pulls in
- pockets
- strangles
- stifles
- bridles
- muffles
3
as in frees
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) release the prisoners immediately Synonyms & Similar Words
- frees
- liberates
- rescues
- discharges
- manumits
- loosens
- saves
- turns loose
- unbinds
- springs
- uncages
- emancipates
- unfetters
- enlarges
- looses
- enfranchises
- unchains
- disenthralls
- delivers
- paroles
- disenthrals
- redeems
- disencumbers
- extricates
- ransoms
- disengages
- disentangles
- bails (out)
- unshackles
- disembarrasses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- binds
- restrains
- confines
- fetters
- commits
- enchains
- shackles
- imprisons
- handcuffs
- locks (up)
- jails
- interns
- conquers
- trammels
- subdues
- subjugates
- enslaves
- incarcerates
- immures
- manacles
4
as in liberates
to set free from entanglement or difficulty the new governor finally managed to release himself from his rash campaign promise Synonyms & Similar Words
- frees
- liberates
- saves
- rescues
- redeems
- extricates
- disengages
- cuts loose
- disentangles
- delivers
- disembarrasses
- clears
- untangles
- disencumbers
- unravels
- disburdens
- unties
- unburdens
- untwines
- unsnarls
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loads
- hampers
- blocks
- hinders
- obstructs
- impedes
- entangles
- weighs
- embroils
- burdens
- encumbers
5
as in casts
to throw or give off an air freshener that releases a pleasing scent into the room Synonyms & Similar Words
- casts
- emits
- issues
- radiates
- discharges
- expels
- shoots
- emanates
- evolves
- exhales
- eliminates
- pours
- vents
- throws out
- expires
- irradiates
- gives out
- sends (out)
- secretes
- evacuates
- sprays
- excretes
- erupts
- oozes
- ejects
- exudes
- gushes
- squirts
- spurts
- spews
- spouts
- jets
- outpours
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- absorbs
- takes up
- inhales
- sucks (up)
- soaks (up)
- sponges
6
as in announces
to make known openly or publicly the panel of nutritionists released their findings on the safety and effectiveness of various diets Synonyms & Similar Words
- announces
- publishes
- declares
- proclaims
- posts
- advertises
- publicizes
- promulgates
- broadcasts
- runs with
- discloses
- reports
- heralds
- promotes
- trumpets
- reveals
- sounds
- flashes
- disseminates
- features
- blazes
- spreads
- blares
- bulletins
- gives out
- placards
- annunciates
- shows
- introduces
- enunciates
- blurbs
- bills
- barks
- cries
- beats the drum (for or about)
- manifests
- gazettes
- divulges
- blazons
- rings
- notifies
- informs
- puffs
- imparts
- billboards
- tolls
- plugs
- hands down
- communicates
- kithes
- apprises
- knells
- intimates
- calls (off or out)
- advises
- pitches
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- withholds
- suppresses
- conceals
- recalls
- silences
- retracts
- revokes
- recants
- hushes (up)
7
as in sacks
to let go from office, service, or employment they released the workers who couldn't handle the new technology Synonyms & Similar Words
- sacks
- removes
- dismisses
- fires
- retires
- discharges
- axes
- terminates
- turns off
- cans
- bounces
- sends packing
- lays off
- pink-slips
- excesses
- musters out
- cashiers
- downsizes
- shows (someone) the door
- trims
- kicks out
- furloughs
- separates
- unseats
- throws out
- boots (out)
- chucks (out)
- drums (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- retains
- hires
- employs
- engages
- keeps
- signs (up or on)
- takes on
- contracts
- reemploys
- rehires
- recruits
- subcontracts
releases
2 of 2noun
1
as in discharges
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt Synonyms & Similar Words
- discharges
- exemptions
- waivers
- deliveries
- immunities
- quittances
- quietuses
- dispensations
2
as in waivers
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property Synonyms & Similar Words
- waivers
- exemptions
- quitclaims
- indemnities
- disclaimers
- relinquishments
- renouncements
- surrenders
- renunciations
- dispensations
- abdications
- handovers
3
as in announcements
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest a press release announcing that the governor would not run for a second term Synonyms & Similar Words
- announcements
- advertisements
- ads
- bulletins
- postings
- notices
- reports
- notifications
- communiqués
- brochures
- adverts
- advertisings
- posters
- broadcasts
- signs
- messages
- flyers
- commercials
- publicities
- promotions
- gazettes
- declarations
- dispatches
- communications
- blurbs
- billings
- circulars
- fliers
- fly sheets
- proclamations
- handbills
- telecasts
- show bills
- pronouncements
- bills
- promulgations
- promos
- buildups
- newscasts
- handouts
- campaigns
- billboards
- playbills
- placards
- cablecasts
- edicts
- pitches
- broadsides
- rescripts
- annunciations
- pronunciamentos
- boosts
- spots
- propagandas
- ballyhoos
- plugs
- come-ons
- words
- plugolas
- significations
- pronunciamentoes
4
as in reliefs
reduction of or freedom from pain only sleep offered any release from the agony of the migraine Synonyms & Similar Words
- reliefs
- eases
- alleviations
- decreases
- comforts
- mollifications
- mitigations
- assuagements
- moderations
- appeasements
- diminishments
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- discomforts
- tortures
- sufferings
- miseries
- pains
- torments
- stitches
- throes
- pangs
- aches
- stings
- agonies
- anguishes
- pricks
- smarts
- tingles
- twinges
- affears
- affect
- affectabilities
- affectability
- affectable
- affectate
- affectation
- affectations
- affectatious
- affected
- affectedly
- affectedness
- affectednesses
- affecter
- affecters
- affecting
- affectingly
- affection
- affectional
- affectionally
- affectionate
- affectionated
- affectionately
- affectionatenesses
- affectioned