Go away get out of here vs Leave

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Go away get out of here

InformalTop 2,000 (common)

Leave

Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: LeaveMost common: Leave
 Go away get out of hereLeave
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ɡəʊ əˈweɪ ɡɛt aʊt əv hɪə//🇺🇸 //ɡoʊ əˈweɪ ɡɛt aʊt əv hɪr//🇬🇧 /["/liːv/","/liːvz/","/left/","/ˈliːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːv/","/liːvz/","/left/","/ˈliːvɪŋ/"]/
MeaningLeave a place.to go away from a place
ExampleWhen I said 'go away, get out of here,' I meant it.I will leave the house at 8 AM.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A1
Part of speechverb
Collocationsgo away quickly, get out of here now, just go away, please go away, go away foreverdecide to, intend to, plan to, for, decide to, intend to, plan to, for, decide to, intend to, plan to, for
Antonyms-arrive, stay
Common mistakesUsing it too formally, such as in a business setting., Confusing it with polite requests like 'please leave'.Confused with 'leave' as in 'not taking something' vs 'leave' meaning to depart., Using 'leave' without an object when the sentence requires one, e.g., 'leave the party.', Mixing up 'leave' with 'let' in phrases.
Usage notesUsed informally to tell someone to leave. It’s not appropriate in formal situations and can sound rude.Use 'leave' when departing from a location or letting go of something. Avoid in very formal writing where terms like 'depart' might be preferred.

See it in real clips

Go away get out of here
Leave

Frequently asked questions: Go away get out of here vs Leave

What's the difference between Go away get out of here and Leave?

Go away get out of here: Leave a place. Leave: to go away from a place

Which is more formal: Go away get out of here and Leave?

Leave is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Go away get out of here and Leave?

Leave is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Go away get out of here: When I said 'go away, get out of here,' I meant it. Leave: I will leave the house at 8 AM.

Can I use Go away get out of here and Leave interchangeably?

Not always. Go away get out of here and Leave are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons