Crossword Genius

Leave a group playing (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abandon

'leave' is the definition.
(to abandon is to leave or desert)

'a group playing' is the wordplay.
'group' becomes 'band' (band can mean a group of people).
'playing' becomes 'on' (on can mean playing or performing).
'a'+'band'+'on'='ABANDON'

(Other definitions for abandon that I've seen before include "Evacuate; desert" , "scrap" , "Leave, desert" , "Total lack of inhibition (often gay?)" , "Stop" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent and The Guardian.
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