to give vent to; emit
to let out a howl
to allow to go or run free; release
(may take a clause as object) to reveal (a secret)
to make available to tenants, hirers, or contractors
to permit to flow out
to let air out of the tyres
to make (a garment) larger, as by unpicking (the seams) and sewing nearer the outer edge
Allow to get out ; also see get out of .
Make known, reveal, as in I thought it was a secret—who let it out? [First half of 1800s] Also see let the cat out of the bag .
Come to a close, end, as in What time does school let out? [Late 1800s]
Increase the size of a garment, as in May's coat needs to be let out across the shoulders . This usage refers to opening some of the seams. [Late 1700s]
First recorded in 1830–40; adj., noun use of verb phrase let out
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He let out a laugh at the question.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
McIlroy hugged his caddie Harry Diamond, looked to the sky and let out a roar as he raised him arms aloft - his sixth major title cementing his place as one of the sport's greats.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
She let out a loud scream and started weeping at the sight of the children.
From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026
Pointing at a calf lying motionless in a green field in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, farmer Igsahn Felix let out a heavy sigh.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
The vision returned: that of Gingersnipes in Clare’s home—wearing his cloak—and he let out a low, sharp growl.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
