let

- definition

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verb

/let/

present tense
I/you/we/they	let
he/she/it	lets
present participle	letting
past tense	let
past participle	let

1
[transitive] to allow something to happen
let someone/something do something:
I stepped back and let him pass.
let someone/something do something:
Alice’s mom won’t let her come with us.
Let your imagination run wild.
let something in/out/through etc.:
Open the windows and let some fresh air into the room.
There are holes between the stones that let the wind through.
let someone know (=tell someone):
Let us know what time you want us to be there.
let yourself:
She lets herself be talked into all kinds of schemes.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
1. a.
  used for offering to do something
  Here, let me help you.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
2
[transitive] [always in imperative] used for showing that you are angry or tired, and do not care what happens
Let her do all the work for a change!
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3
[transitive] [always in imperative] used for giving an order or instruction
Let the games begin!
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4
[intransitive/transitive] mainly British to rent a room, apartment, house, etc. to someone
let something to someone:
He’s let his cottage to some people from London.
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5
[transitive] [usually in imperative] math used in mathematics for saying that you are imagining that something is true, usually in order to prove a principle of mathematics
Let x = 5.
Let ABC be a triangle.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let

phrases

let alone
used for saying that something is even less likely to happen than another unlikely thing
I hardly have time to think these days, let alone relax.
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let someone be
to stop annoying someone
Jimmy, let your sister be!
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let something drop/rest
to stop talking about something
I think we’d better let the matter drop so your father can calm down.
Just let it rest, would you?
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let something drop/slip
to say something important either by accident or in a way that makes it seem like an accident
She casually let it drop that she would be moving to Paris.
In an unguarded moment, he let it slip that he’d lost his job.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let go (of someone/something)
to stop holding someone or something
Let go! That hurts.
She refused to let go of her bag and kicked her attackers several times.
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let someone go
1. 1
  to allow a person or animal to go free
  The police had to let her go because of insufficient evidence.
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2. 2
  informal to officially tell someone that they can no longer work at a job
  John was let go after it was discovered that he stole some files.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let someone/something go
or let go someone/something
to stop holding someone or something
Let me go!
Reluctantly, he let go of her arm.
Let the book go – it’s mine!
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let something go
informal
1. 1
  to stop thinking or feeling angry about something that is upsetting you
  Looking back on it now, I think we should just have let it go.
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2. 2
  to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying
  Don’t let him upset you, just let it go.
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let something go for something
if you let something go for a particular amount of money, you agree to sell it for that amount
I can’t let it go for less than $300.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let someone have it
very informal
to attack or criticize someone severely
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let it be known that
to give information to other people, especially in an indirect way
He let it be known, during dinner, that he was on the lookout for a wife.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let loose
informal
1. 1
  to express strong emotions or opinions
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2. 2
  to say or shout something
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let me see/think
used for saying that you need a moment to think about something
Let me see – where did I put my keys?
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let me tell you
informal
used for emphasizing what you are saying
It was quite a show, let me tell you!
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let something pass
to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying
The remark made me furious, but I let it pass.
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let something ride
informal
1. 1
  to allow a situation to continue instead of dealing with it immediately
  The longer you let it ride, the harder it will be to fix later.
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2. 2
  to not react to something that someone says, especially something annoying
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let’s
1. 1
  used for suggesting that you and one or more other people do something
  Let’s eat now.
  “Do you want to leave?” “Yes, let’s!”
  let us formal:
  Let us be thankful for each other.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
2. 2
  let’s face it
  used for saying that someone must admit that a situation exists
  Let’s face it – he’s not cut out for this job.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
3. 3
  let’s hope
  used for saying that you hope something is true or will happen
  Let’s hope she never finds out the truth.
  “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.” “Let’s hope you’re right.”
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
4. 4
  let’s (just) say
  used for saying that you are not going to tell all the details about something
  Let’s just say it wasn’t her best performance.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
5. 5
  let’s say/suppose (that)
  used for suggesting that a possible situation needs to be considered
  Let’s suppose you lose. What will you do then?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let’s see
1. 1
  used for suggesting that you and one or more other people should find the answer to something
  let’s see if/whether:
  Let’s see if it works.
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2. 2
  spoken used for saying that you need a moment to think about something
  Let’s see – where was I?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let something slide
to not punish someone or react to something they have said
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let there be something
formal
1. 1
  used for expressing a prayer or a hope
  Let there be peace on earth.
  Let there be no lies between us.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
2. 2
  used for emphasis
  Let there be no mistake about it, this proposal is the best solution.
  Let there be no doubt that this was an attack on the whole community.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
let yourself go
informal
1. 1
  to allow yourself to feel and express emotions without trying to control them
  Relax and let yourself go.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
2. 2
  to allow your appearance and health to get worse
  He’s really let himself go in the past few years.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
never let it be said that
often humorous
used for emphasizing the opposite of a statement
“Never let it be said that I arrive empty-handed!” she said, handing him some bread and cheese.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let
to/for let
mainly British
available to be rented. The usual American phrase is for rent.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of let

phrasal verbs

vocal fry

a speech habit in which a speaker lowers their voice at the end of a sentence

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a mineral which is mined in a place where there is armed conflict, and sold to help pay for weapons

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let

What are red words?

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phrases

let alone

let someone be

let something drop/rest

let something drop/slip

let go (of someone/something)

let someone go

let someone/something go

or let go someone/something

let something go

let something go for something

let someone have it

let it be known that

let loose

let me see/think

let me tell you

let something pass

let something ride

let’s

let’s face it

let’s hope

let’s (just) say

let’s say/suppose (that)

let’s see

let something slide

let there be something

let yourself go

never let it be said that

to/for let

phrasal verbs

vocal fry

Word of the Day

watchword

conflict mineral