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let
1[ let ]
verb (used with object)
- to allow or permit:
If we let him escape, he'll lead us to the boss.
Antonyms: prevent
- to allow to pass, go, or come:
The gap is too narrow to let the car through.
- to grant the occupancy or use of (land, buildings, rooms, space, etc., or movable property) for rent or hire (sometimes followed by out ):
The family lets out their spare room in the summer for extra money.
- to contract or assign for performance, usually under a contract:
They let work to a local carpenter for the repairs.
- to cause to; make:
You must let her know the truth of your circumstances if you want to marry her.
- (used in the imperative as an auxiliary expressive of a request, command, warning, suggestion, etc.):
Let me see. Let us go. Just let them try it!
verb (used without object)
- to be rented or leased:
The apartment lets for $250 per week.
noun
- British. a lease.
verb phrase
- to cease; stop:
The rain let up for a few hours.
- to divulge; make known.
- to release from confinement, restraint, etc.
- to enlarge (a garment).
- to terminate; be finished; end:
When does the university let out for the summer?
- to make (a let-out fur or pelt).
- to treat less severely; be more lenient with:
He refused to let up on the boy until his grades improved.
- to admit.
- to involve (a person) in something without their knowledge or permission:
to let someone in for a loss.
- Also let into. to insert into the surface of (a wall or the like) as a permanent addition:
to let a plaque into a wall.
- Also let in on. to share a secret with; permit to participate in.
- to reveal one's true feelings:
She was terrified at the prospect, but didn't let on.
- to pretend:
They let on that they didn't care about not being invited, but I could tell that they were hurt.
- to release by exploding.
- to free from duty or responsibility; excuse.
- to allow to go with little or no punishment; pardon:
The judge let off the youthful offender with a reprimand.
let
2[ let ]
noun
- (in tennis, badminton, etc.) any play that is voided and must be replayed, especially a service that hits the net and drops into the proper part of the opponent's court.
- Chiefly Law. an impediment or obstacle:
to act without let or hindrance.
verb (used with object)
- Archaic. to hinder, prevent, or obstruct.
-let
3- a diminutive suffix attached to nouns ( booklet; piglet; ringlet ), and, by extraction from bracelet, a suffix denoting a band, piece of jewelry, or article of clothing worn on the part of the body specified by the noun ( anklet; wristlet ).
-let
1suffix forming nouns
- small or lesser
booklet
starlet
- an article of attire or ornament worn on a specified part of the body
anklet
let
2/ lɛt /
noun
- an impediment or obstruction (esp in the phrase without let or hindrance )
- tennis squash
- a minor infringement or obstruction of the ball, requiring a point to be replayed
- the point so replayed
verb
- archaic.tr to hinder; impede
let
3/ lɛt /
verb
- to permit; allow
she lets him roam around
- imperative or dependent imperative
- used as an auxiliary to express a request, proposal, or command, or to convey a warning or threat
just let me catch you here again!
let's get on
- (in mathematical or philosophical discourse) used as an auxiliary to express an assumption or hypothesis
let "a" equal "b"
- used as an auxiliary to express resigned acceptance of the inevitable
let the worst happen
- to allow the occupation of (accommodation) in return for rent
- to assign (a contract for work)
- to allow or cause the movement of (something) in a specified direction
to let air out of a tyre
- informal.to utter
to let a cry
- let alone
- conjunction much less; not to mention
I can't afford wine, let alone champagne
- to refrain from annoying or interfering with
let the poor cat alone
- let goSee go 1
- let loose
- to set free
- to make (a sound or remark) suddenly
he let loose a hollow laugh
- to discharge (rounds) from a gun or guns
they let loose a couple of rounds of ammunition
noun
- the act of letting property or accommodation
the majority of new lets are covered by the rent regulations
Usage Note
Word History and Origins
Origin of let1
Word History and Origins
Origin of let1
Origin of let2
Origin of let3
Idioms and Phrases
- let alone,
- not to mention:
He was too tired to walk, let alone run.
- Also leave alone. to refrain from annoying or interfering with.
- let be,
- to refrain from interference.
- to refrain from interfering with.
- let someone have it, Informal. to attack or assault, as by striking, shooting, or rebuking:
The gunman threatened to let the teller have it if he didn't move fast.
- let go. go 1( def 95 ).
- let well enough alone. alone ( def 8 ).
More idioms and phrases containing let
- blow (let) off steam
- give (let) someone have his or her head
- (let someone) have it
- live and let live
- leave
Example Sentences
This entire ordeal reeks of bureaucratic overreach being bandied about in the name of “let-us-save-the-children” politics.
Uh, what part of last-team-to-let-Tim-Tebow-go are you not understanding, non-believers?
The White House just had to scratch it out with a real strategy and a never-let-go attitude.
The jukebox blasts “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by the 5th Dimension.
Beyond that, Wallace spoke openly about his struggles with depression well before we entered the let-it-all-hang-out culture.
Further, why not sub-let the flat to any of your own friends who can afford to give you a few guineas a week for it?
Mr. O'Connell was, in fact, "a middle man;" he rented extensive lands, and sub-let at a very large profit.
Burmans love it, and no feast is complete without it, indeed a packet of let-pet is an invitation to something festive.
At one place it is let-pet, or pickled tea, though the plant from which the stuff is made is not really a tea-plant.
All was serene and lovely on the surface, however, with many won't-you-let-me's and please-do-now's on both sides.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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