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 for Youn Park, whose Little Orbit corner store is located in a facsimile of an old ticket booth at the transportation center, CATS’ decision to end the leases was sad. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 31 May 2025 The city would make annual lease payments over a 30-year term. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
Verb
Many farmers are leasing land for clean power projects, generating stable income streams that help sustain agricultural economies and keep land in the family for future generations. —Martin Hermann, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 Saturday’s auction will feature 140 tracts of varying sizes in different locations across the state, and they’ll be leased out to hunters on a five-year cycle. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 28 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
  • This is different from market value, which is the cost for which the property would sell.
    — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 1 June 2025
  • Photo : Legendary Productions/Luxury Resort Portfolio The property stretches from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 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
  • After the Motsepe takeover in 2003, the club hired a series of high-profile managers, including the legendary Bulgarian forward Hristo Stoichkov and the late Dutch midfielder Johan Neeskens.
    — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 June 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
  • The area is often described as one of the country’s largest urban infill projects, and economic development leaders see it as a means of doubling the size of Sacramento’s downtown.
    — Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025
  • At the Haiti Funders Conference on Haiti in Boston on Wednesday evening, several attendees expressed shock at the development.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 June 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 10 Jun. 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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