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Meaning & use

leave your mark

phrase·Everydayfigurative

Last updated

UK/ˌliːv jɔː ˈmɑːk/
US/ˌliv jʊr ˈmɑrk/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiomfigurative

    To have a lasting effect on a place, field or person, so that you are remembered for what you did.

    Grammar: The possessive matches the subject, often with on: she left her mark on the team.

    Patterns

    • leave your mark on something
    • leave your mark on someone

    She wanted to leave her mark on the company before she retired.

    The coach left his mark on every player he trained.

    Young designers hope to leave their mark on the fashion world.

  2. phraseidiom

    To make a physical mark or stain on something.

    Grammar: Often has the surface as object: the mug left its mark on the table.

    Patterns

    • leave a mark on something

    The hot pan left its mark on the wooden counter.

    Dirty boots will leave their mark on the clean floor.

    The tape left its mark on the wall.

Word forms

third person singularleaves your mark
past tenseleft your mark
past participleleft your mark
-ing formleaving your mark

Common combinations

leave your mark on the world
He dreamed of leaving his mark on the world.
leave a lasting mark
The teacher left a lasting mark on her students.
leave your mark on history
The queen left her mark on history.
want to leave your mark
Many young artists want to leave their mark.

Synonyms and how they differ

make an impression
Make an impression often refers to the first effect on someone, while leave your mark suggests a long-term legacy.
make a difference
Make a difference stresses the positive result of your actions, whereas leave your mark stresses being remembered.
leave a legacy
Leave a legacy is more formal and usually refers to what remains after you are gone.

Opposites

go unnoticed

Word family

mark noun
a visible sign or lasting effect
leave verb
to go away from or let something remain
remark verb
to notice or comment on something

Commonly confused: leave your mark or make your mark?

leave your mark vs make your mark

Make your mark means to become successful and noticed, while leave your mark stresses the lasting effect after you act.

Practice

The architect hoped to ___ on the skyline of the city.

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