leave behind

verb leaves behind · leaving behind · left behind

1. idiomatic, transitive To abandon. We left behind our luggage at the hotel.
2. idiomatic, transitive To forget about. We (accidentally) left behind our bags at the airport.
3. idiomatic, transitive To not live longer than; to be survived by. Mrs Johnston died at thirty, and left behind three young daughters.
4. idiomatic, transitive To leave (a trace of something). The wound I got in my car accident left behind a massive scar.
5. idiomatic, transitive To outdo; to progress faster than (someone or something else). This product leaves behind all its competitors in the market.
6. idiomatic, transitive To pass. As soon as we made our way onto the highway, we left the skyscrapers behind us.
7. idiomatic Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see leave, behind.