Thesaurus results for LEASE

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

lease 1 of 2

noun

Definition of lease

as in property

Related Words

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lease

2 of 2

verb

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

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

That unique gallery purchased the building in 2018 for $3 million, but officials there didn’t begin planning its future in earnest until Cap City vacated its lease and closed in July 2025. — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026 American accounts for about 90% of CLT’s flights, but the lease also governs Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026

Verb

Paramount is taking over the Bay Theater, the long-shuttered cinema at Palisades Village formerly leased by Netflix, adding to a wave of revivals of dormant movie theaters across Los Angeles. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 The Bay Theater was previously leased by Netflix, which took it over in 2021. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lease

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lease

Noun

In addition to the return of her property, Omar's attorneys are demanding that the Justice Department preserve any audio and video that was taken during the search, according to the letter.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
When the Gulf state launched its golden visa in 2019, the government offered 10-year residency to people who could invest at least $545,000 into property as well as to researchers, teachers and specialized talent.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of property

Verb

Chesney told fans during a UCLA men’s basketball game shortly after he was hired that the football team is playing for banners.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, public records show the firms hired to represent the officials racked up hefty legal bills, with some lawyers charging the state $800 an hour.

— Kate Payne, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hire

Noun

New disclosures from Johnson & Johnson and peer developers on cyclization and amino acid substitution techniques used to extend peptide stability in the GI tract.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Tech companies are eager for vast tracts to build data centers that can be as large as 70 football fields, and Townsite could set a precedent for similar projects on federal property with more than a dozen others in the planning stages.

— Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of tract

Noun

Walsh will contribute across collection development, campaign concepts, styling, brand imagery and creative storytelling, working alongside the Rebecca Taylor team.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Abell Diño-Cabrera, who heads Fire & Ice Media and runs the division’s film and TV development, production, positioning and sales work, will steer the alliance for the Philippine side.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of development

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“Lease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lease. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lease

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