---
name: "leave"
section: "1"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/leave"
---

# leave(1)

print reminders when it is time to leave

## NAME

**leave** – print reminders when it is time to leave

## SYNOPSIS

**leave** \[\[**+**\]*hhmm*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**leave** waits until the specified time, then prints a reminder that it is time to leave. Reminders are printed 5 minutes and 1 minute before the actual time, at the time, and every minute thereafter. If the login session ends, **leave** exits just before it would have printed the next message.

The options are as follows:

- *hhmm*

  The time of day is in the form *hhmm* where *hh* is a time in hours (on a 12 or 24 hour clock), and *mm* in minutes. In ambiguous cases, times are converted to a 12 hour clock, and assumed to be in the next 12 hours.

- **+**

  If the time is preceded by ‘+’, the alarm will go off in hours and minutes from the current time.

If no argument is given, **leave** prompts with "When do you have to leave?". A reply of newline causes **leave** to exit, otherwise the reply is assumed to be a time. This form is suitable for inclusion in a *.login* or *.profile*.

## SEE ALSO

[calendar(1)](/calendar/1.md)

## HISTORY

The **leave** command appeared in 3.0BSD.

## AUTHORS

Mary Ann Horton.