left
adjective
\ ˈleft
\
\
Definition of left
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
her left leg
b
: done with the left hand
a left hook to the jaw
c
: located nearer to the left hand than to the right
a man's left chest
d(1)
: located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified
stage left the left arm of a chair
(2)
: located on the left when facing downstream
the left bank of a river
2
often capitalized
: of, adhering to, or constituted by the left especially in politics
this left government with a cabinet of moderate liberals— F. A. Magruder
left
nounDefinition of left (Entry 2 of 3)
1a
: the left hand
b
: the location or direction of the left side
c
: the part on the left side
d
: a turn to the left
take a left at the intersection
2a
: left field
b
: a blow struck with the left fist
3 often capitalized
a
: the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer
b
: the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members
4 often capitalized
a
: those professing views usually characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order especially in politics and usually advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man
b
: a radical as distinguished from a conservative position
left
Definition of left (Entry 3 of 3)
past tense and past participle of leave
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Other Words from left
Adjective
left
adverb
Noun
leftmost
\ ˈleft-ˌmōst
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms & Antonyms for left
Synonyms: Noun
left wing, leftism, liberalism
Antonyms: Noun
conservatism, illiberalism, immobilism, right
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Examples of left in a Sentence
Adjective
He felt a pain in his left side. He hit him with a left hook to the jaw. the left side of the streetNoun
We read from left to right. You'll take two lefts and then a right. He hit him with two quick lefts to the stomach followed by a right to the jaw.
Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
By contrast, there are slightly less left-handers with Parkinson's disease than the general population. — Emily Dixon, CNN, "Scientists have identified the genes linked to left-handedness," 5 Sep. 2019 The left-hander allowed three runs and six hits over a season-low 41/3 innings. — Los Angeles Times, "Dodgers break National League record for home runs in season in win over Rockies," 4 Sep. 2019 The major league leader in average against left-handers sent Yarbrough’s second pitch of the sixth out to left field for a home run to get the Orioles on the board. — Baltimore Sun Staff, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles lose to Rays, 5-4, in 10th inning after Mark Trumbo-fueled rally," 2 Sep. 2019 Austin Allen then worked a walk, pushing Samardzija’s pitch count to 109 and prompting Bruce Bochy to replace him with left-hander Fernando Abad. — Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, "Loud cheers but no magic in Pablo Sandoval’s likely last cameo," 1 Sep. 2019 Especially impressive were the outings turned in by left-handers Alex Claudio and Drew Pomeranz, who delivered huge outs in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively. — Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers 4, Cubs 0: Christian Yelich's three-run homer clinches must-win series at Wrigley Field," 1 Sep. 2019 The left-hander went down in the Southeastern Conference championship game with an ankle injury and was thoroughly outplayed by Clemson's Trevor Lawrence in the national title game. — Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, "Alabama vs. Duke 2019 live stream; time, TV channel, odds, watch online," 31 Aug. 2019 Senior Jaycen Cash, a left-hander who started at quarterback the last two years, transferred to Mission Viejo. — Matt Szabo, Daily Pilot, "High School Football Preview: Estancia will hit the road in 2019," 28 Aug. 2019 The left-hander made his latest move after not seeing any action at quarterback with the Wolverines last season. — Pat Stoetzer, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "College Football: McDaniel quarterback position battle heating up," 27 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Pablo Sandoval will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on September 4, but he could be activated and used as a left-handed pinch-hitter on Sunday. — Kerry Crowley, The Mercury News, "September baseball will provide preview of Giants’ future beyond Bochy," 31 Aug. 2019 The 26-year-old left-hander is almost a sure thing to go five innings, having done so all but four starts this season. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Lucchesi lasts longer, as Padres beat Giants," 31 Aug. 2019 The Angels drafted the left-handed pitcher in 2009 in the first round but ultimately traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks. — NBC News, "Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died with alcohol, fentanyl, oxycodone in system: medical examiner," 30 Aug. 2019 The death rocked baseball shortly before the All-Star Game and laid bare the emotions of Angels manager Brad Ausmus, star outfielder Mike Trout and fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney , his best friend on the team, along with the rest of his teammates. — Washington Post, "Skaggs family ‘shocked’ over possible Angels link to death," 30 Aug. 2019 Skaggs’ death laid bare the emotions of manager Brad Ausmus, star outfielder Mike Trout and fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney, his best friend on the team, along with the rest of his teammates and LA staff members. — Schuyler Dixon, baltimoresun.com, "Coroner says Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died from overdose," 30 Aug. 2019 In the Hunter Strickland deal, the Mariners picked up 23-year-old left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Fletcher. — oregonlive.com, "Examining the Seattle Mariners’ moves at the MLB trade deadline," 2 Aug. 2019 The 22-year-old left-handed batter is hitting .309/.348/.602 (165 wRC+) in Double-A Pensacola. — Wells Dusenbury, sun-sentinel.com, "Marlins acquire power-hitting prospect Lewin Diaz from Twins for reliever Sergio Romo," 28 July 2019 The lanky left-hander struck out the side in the seventh and the leadoff batter in the eighth before allowing Edwin Encarnacion’s solo home run in the ninth. — John Shipley, Twin Cities, "Twins get bullpen help but damage already done in 10-7 loss to Yankees," 24 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'left.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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