Took one's leave is a phrase that describes the act of leaving a place or situation. The term can be broken down into three crossword solutions: EXITED (6 letters), WENT (4 letters), and HEADEDOUT (9 letters). EXITED implies a more abrupt departure, while WENT implies a more casual exit. HEADEDOUT implies that the person is actively moving away from the place or situation. All three words describe the same action, but with different levels of emphasis.