leave somebody/something ↔ behind phrasal verb ( see also ↑ leave )
1 . to not take someone or something with you when you leave a place:
I think I might have left my wallet behind.
He departed for Washington, leaving the children behind with their mother.
2 . if a person, country, or organization is left behind, they do not develop as quickly or make as much progress as other people, countries etc:
In class, a child with poor eyesight can soon get left behind.
a fear of being left behind by better-organized rivals
3 . ( also leave somebody/something behind you ) to permanently stop being involved with a person, place or situation:
It’s time to leave the past behind.
Although Armstrong overcame the circumstances of his birth, he never really left New Orleans behind.
4 . ( also leave somebody/something behind you ) to move away from someone or something:
They had left the city behind and were heading into open country.
Sarah, with her long legs, soon left the rest of us far behind.
5 . ( also leave something behind you ) to produce a thing or situation that remains after you have gone:
He drove off, leaving behind him a trail of blue smoke.
the mess the previous government left behind