Cool MateHire vs Lease
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Lease
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Hire
| Hire | Lease | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪə(r)/","/ˈhaɪəz/","/ˈhaɪəd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪər/","/ˈhaɪərz/","/ˈhaɪərd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //liːs//🇺🇸 //liːs// |
| Meaning | To pay someone to do a job. | To rent something for a specific time. |
| Example | We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department. | They decided to lease a new apartment in the city. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, week, etc., locally, from | lease agreement, renew a lease, commercial lease, residential lease, lease terms |
| Antonyms | dismiss, fire | own, purchase |
| Common mistakes | 'Hired' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'hire' with 'borrow'., Not using the right preposition, e.g., 'hire for' instead of 'hire to'. | Confusing lease with 'lise' or 'leasehold', which have distinct meanings., Omitting details about the duration or conditions of the lease when discussing., Incorrectly using 'lease' as a noun and verb interchangeably. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for job-related discussions but less appropriate for casual conversations unless referring to a personal task. | Used in formal contexts, often in business or legal situations. Avoid in casual conversation unless referring to property or equipment. Be clear about the duration and terms when using. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Hire vs Lease
What's the difference between Hire and Lease?
Hire: To pay someone to do a job. Lease: To rent something for a specific time.
Which is more common: Hire and Lease?
Hire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hire: We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department. Lease: They decided to lease a new apartment in the city.
Can I use Hire and Lease interchangeably?
Not always. Hire and Lease 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.