Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense lets, present participle lettinglanguage note: The form let is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1. verb
If you let something happen, you allow it to happen without doing anything to stop or prevent it.
People said we were interfering with nature, and that we should just let the animalsdie. [VERB noun infinitive]
Thorne let him talk. [VERB noun infinitive]
She let the door slam. [VERB noun infinitive]
I can't let myself be distracted by those things. [V pron-refl inf]
Synonyms: enable, make, allow, cause More Synonyms of let
2. verb
If you let someone do something, you give them your permission to do it.
I love sweets but Mum doesn't let me have them very often. [VERB noun infinitive]
The Americans won't let her leave the country. [VERB noun infinitive]
Visa or no visa, they won't let you into the country. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: allow, grant, permit, warrant More Synonyms of let
3. verb
If you let someone into, out of, or through a place, you allow them to enter, leave, or go through it, for example by opening a door or making room for them.
I had to let them into the building because they had lost their keys. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
I let myself into the flat. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
I'd better go and let the dog out. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The guards were removing a section of fencing to let it through. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
4. verb
You use let me when you are introducing something you want to say.
Let me say it again. I despised Wade's life. [Vme inf]
Let me tell you what I saw last night. [Vme inf]
Let me explain why. [Vme inf]
Let me give you one quick example. [Vme inf]
5. verb
You use let me when you are offering politely to do something.
[politeness]
Let me take your coat. [Vme inf]
Let me get you something to drink. [Vme inf]
6. verb
You say let's or, in more formal English, let us, to direct the attention of the people you are talking to towards the subject that you want to consider next.
Let's consider ways of making it easier. [Vus inf]
Let us look at these views in more detail. [Vus inf]
7. verb
You say let's or, in formal English, let us, when you are making a suggestion that involves both you and the person you are talking to, or when you are agreeing to a suggestion of this kind.
I'm bored. Let's go home. [Vus inf]
'Shall we go in and have some supper?'—'Yes, let's.' [V's]
8. verb
Someone in authority, such as a teacher, can use let's or, in more formal English, let us, in order to give a polite instruction to another person or group of people.
[politeness]
Let's have some hush, please. [Vus inf]
'Let us pray,' said the Methodist chaplain. [Vus inf]
9. verb
People often use let in expressions such as let me see or let me think when they are hesitating or thinking of what to say next.
[vagueness]
Now, let's see. Where did I leave my bag? [V pron inf]
'How long you been living together then?'—'Erm, let me think. It's about four yearsnow.' [V pron inf]
10. verb
You can use let to say that you do not care if someone does something, although you think it is unpleasant or wrong.
If he wants to do that, let him do it. [VERB noun infinitive]
Let them talk about me; I'll be dead, anyway. [VERB noun infinitive]
11. verb
You can use let when you are saying what you think someone should do, usually when they are behaving in a way that you think is unreasonable or wrong.
Let him get his own cup of tea. [VERB noun infinitive]
If they value these data, let them pay for them. [VERB noun infinitive]
12. verb
You can use let when you are praying or hoping very much that something will happen.
Please God, let him phone me. [VERB noun infinitive]
13. verb
You can use let to introduce an assumption on which you are going to base a theory, calculation, or story.
Let x equal 5 and y equal 3. [VERB noun infinitive]
14. verb
If you let your house or land to someone, you allow them to use it in exchange for money that they pay you regularly.
[mainly British]
She is thinking of letting her house to an American serviceman. [VERB noun + to]
The reasons for letting a house, or part of one, are varied. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: lease, hire, rent, rent out More Synonyms of let
Let out means the same as let.
I couldn't sell the London flat, so I let it out to pay the mortgage. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Home owners who have extra space available may want to let out a room. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
regional note: in AM, use rent
15. countable noun
In tennis or badminton, if you serve a let, the ball or shuttlecock touches the net but lands in the correct part of the court. You then serve again.
16.
See let alone
17.
See let someone be
18.
See to let go of sb/sth
19.
See to let go of sth
20.
See let sb go
21.
See let someone go
22.
See let it go
23.
See let yourself go
24.
See let yourself go
25.
See let oneself in for
26.
See to let someone know
27.
See let sth drop/fall/slip
28.
See be let loose
29.
See let loose sth
30. to let fly
31. to let your hair down
32. to let someone off the hook
33. to let it be known
34. to live and let live
35. to let the side down
36. to let off steam
Phrasal verbs:
See let down
See let in
See let in on
See let into
See let off
See let on
See let out
See let up
See let up on
English Easy Learning GrammarThe imperativeCommands and orders The imperative is used to give commands and orders. The form of the verb used forthe imperative is the base form of the main verb, ... Read more
let in British English1
(lɛt)
verbWord forms: lets, letting or let(tr; usually takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
1.
to permit; allow
she lets him roam around
2. (imperative or dependent imperative)
a.
used as an auxiliary to express a request, proposal, or command, or to convey a warning or threat
let's get on
just let me catch you here again!
b.
(in mathematical or philosophical discourse) used as an auxiliary to express an assumption or hypothesis
let "a" equal "b"
c.
used as an auxiliary to express resigned acceptance of the inevitable
let the worst happen
3.
a.
to allow the occupation of (accommodation) in return for rent
b.
to assign (a contract for work)
4.
to allow or cause the movement of (something) in a specified direction
to let air out of a tyre
5. Irish informal
to utter
to let a cry
6. let alone
7. let go
8. let loose
noun
9. British
the act of letting property or accommodation
the majority of new lets are covered by the rent regulations
Word origin
Old English lǣtan to permit; related to Gothic lētan, German lassen
let in British English2
(lɛt)
noun
1.
an impediment or obstruction (esp in the phrase without let or hindrance)
2. tennis, squash
a.
a minor infringement or obstruction of the ball, requiring a point to be replayed
b.
the point so replayed
verbWord forms: lets, letting, letted or let
3. (transitive) archaic
to hinder; impede
Word origin
Old English lettan to hinder, from lætlate; related to Old Norse letja
-let in British English
suffix forming nouns
1.
small or lesser
booklet
starlet
2.
an article worn on a specified part of the body
anklet
Word origin
from Old French -elet, from Latin -āle, neuter of adj suffix -ālis or from Latin -ellus, diminutive suffix
let in American English1
(lɛt)
verb transitiveWord forms: let or ˈletting
1.
to leave; forsake; abandon
now only in phrases let alone or let be, to refrain from bothering, disturbing, touching, etc.
2.
a.
to give the use of (a house, room, etc.) to a tenant in return for rent; rent; hire out
b.
to give out (work), assign (a contract), etc.
3.
to allow or cause to escape; cause to flow or come out, as by shedding, emitting, etc.
to let blood
4.
to allow to pass, come, or go
let me in
5.
to allow; permit
followed by an infinitive, normally without to [let me help], or by an adverb, etc. with the verb itself unexpressed [let me up]
6.
to cause to; make
usually with know or hear
let me hear from you
verb intransitive
7.
to be rented or leased
house to let
SIMILAR WORDS: hire
Idioms:
let alone
let down
let off
let on
let out
let someone have it
let up
let up on
let well enough alone
SYNONYMY NOTE: let1 may imply positive consent but more often stresses the offering of no oppositionor resistance, sometimes connoting negligence, lack of power, etc. [don't let this happen again]; allow, permit1 imply power or authority to give or deny consent, , allow connoting a refraining from the enforcement of usual requirements [honor students were allowed to miss the examinations], and permit1 more positively suggesting formal consent or authorization [he was permitted to talk to the prisoner]; suffer, now somewhat rare in this sense, is closely synonymous with , allow and may connote passive consent or reluctant tolerance
Word origin
ME leten < OE lætan, to leave behind, akin to Ger lassen < IE *lēd- < base *lēi-, to neglect, leave behind > late, L letum, death
let in American English2
(lɛt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈletted or let, ˈletting
1. Archaic
to hinder; obstruct; prevent
noun
2.
an obstacle or impediment
used in the legal phrase without let or hindrance
3. Tennis Etc
an interference with the course of the ball in some way specified in the rules, making it necessary to play the point over again
Word origin
ME letten < OE lettan, to hinder, lit., to make late (akin to Goth latjan, to delay) < base of læt, late
-let in American English
(lɪt; lət)
1.
small
piglet, starlet
2.
a small object worn as a band on (a specified part of the body)
armlet
Word origin
ME < MFr -el (< L -ellus) + -et, both dim. suffixes
More idioms containing
let
let it all hang out
let your hair down
let something slip through your fingers
let sleeping dogs lie
let the cat out of the bag
let rip
let the side down
let off steam
let someone stew
Examples of 'let' in a sentence
let
They have to back him again and let him get on with it.
The Sun (2016)
Why not let the police use them.
The Sun (2016)
The task is first and foremost to stop letting goals in.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
See your dad regularly but try not to let your mum get to you.
The Sun (2016)
Do you think their discipline let them down?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We’ve gone from programming machines to do things to letting the machines figure out what to do.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
We won't let anything like this come between us.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Common examples are a group of friends sharing, a student house or a house let by room.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Landlords, like tenants, are already paying through the nose for the services of letting agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
MOST world leaders gave their support to the new US leader yesterday but many politicians let rip.
The Sun (2017)
It will be a tragedy if we let that happen again.
The Sun (2012)
Will she let the police know he has an alibi?
The Sun (2012)
We might let in a goal or stupidly lose a game.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Yet the police and security services let him roam the streets with impunity.
The Sun (2013)
That is why they let the banks get away with so much for so long.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They got used to let it go and not comment because they would be killed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Watch him cruise up to the leaders at the last before letting rip.
The Sun (2011)
But he says the squad have yet to let their hair down after a victory.
The Sun (2013)
Most brokers will let clients rent before they buy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This is far too important a subject to let pass.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Why did they stand aside and let it happen?
The Sun (2011)
Many are choosing to let their property as an alternative as the returns are more secure.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You shall let me think of you as happy.
George Eliot Daniel Deronda (1876)
He allowed himself a wry smile and a promise to himself not to let it happen again.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The police may let your youngster go without charging them.
Cohen, Julian & Kay, James Taking Drugs Seriously (1994)
Southampton goals let in after nine league games.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now we want to know why the psychiatric services let her out on the streets.
The Sun (2012)
They tend to nudge reminders to you if they think you might be letting things slip too far.
Ingham, Christine Life Without Work (1994)
Our elders decided to let the house group handle the discipline and not involve themselves unless it was absolutely necessary.
Christianity Today (2000)
You do not want to let other teams get too far away and you want to build on recent performances.
The Sun (2013)
To them let me say this.
The Sun (2009)
The camera fixes on her and won't let go.
John Walsh ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?: A Life Through the Movies (2004)
It is another sign of change that he speaks at all, let alone with such openness.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now she won't let me see my new son.
The Sun (2011)
Word lists with
let
tennis
In other languages
let
British English: let /lɛt/ VERB
If you let someone do something, you allow them to do it.
American English: let
Arabic: يَسْمَحُ
Brazilian Portuguese: deixar
Chinese: 允许
Croatian: pustiti
Czech: dovolit
Danish: lade
Dutch: toestaan
European Spanish: dejar permitir
Finnish: sallia
French: laisser
German: lassen
Greek: αφήνω
Italian: lasciare
Japanese: ･･･させる
Korean: 허락하다
Norwegian: la
Polish: pozwolić
European Portuguese: deixar
Romanian: a permite
Russian: разрешать
Latin American Spanish: dejar permitir
Swedish: hyra ut
Thai: อนุญาต
Turkish: izin vermek
Ukrainian: дозволяти
Vietnamese: để cho
All related terms of 'let'
let's
Let's is the usual spoken form of 'let us'.
let be
to refrain from annoying or interfering with
let go
to relax one's hold (on); release
let in
If an object lets in something such as air , light, or water, it allows air, light, or water to get into it, for example because the object has a hole in it.
let on
If you do not let on that something is true , you do not tell anyone that it is true, and you keep it a secret.
let up
If an unpleasant , continuous process lets up , it stops or becomes less intense .
re-let
to make (land or property) available for letting again after the previous tenants have vacated it
let fly
to lose one's temper (with a person)
let off
If someone in authority lets you off a task or duty , they give you permission not to do it.
let out
If something or someone lets water, air, or breath out , they allow it to flow out or escape.
let rip
If you let rip , you do something forcefully and without trying to control yourself.
let alone
Let alone is used after a statement , usually a negative one, to indicate that the statement is even more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next .
let down
If you let someone down , you disappoint them, by not doing something that you have said you will do or that they expected you to do.
let drive
to hit or aim
let into
If you let someone into a secret, you allow them to know it.
let loose
to set free
let slide
to allow to follow a natural course, esp one leading to deterioration
let slip
If you let slip information, you accidentally tell it to someone, when you wanted to keep it secret .
let in on
If you let someone in on something that is a secret from most people, you allow them to know about it.
let it go
If someone says or does something that you think is annoying or stupid and you let it go , you do not react to it or say anything about it.
let sb go
If you let someone or something go , you allow them to leave or escape .
let through
to allow to pass (through)
let up on
If you let up on someone or something, you stop being so harsh or strict with them.
buy-to-let
of or relating to the practice of buying a property to let to tenants rather than to live in oneself
fly-to-let
the practice of buying a property in a foreign country for rental as an investment
jet-to-let
the practice of buying a property in a foreign country for rental as an investment
let in for
to involve (oneself or another) in (something more than is expected )
let it rip
If you let it rip , you do something forcefully and without trying to control yourself.
to let fly
If you let fly , you attack someone, either physically by hitting them, or with words by insulting them.
let fly (at)
to shoot or throw (at)
let her rip
to go ahead ; continue without restraint
let sth rest
If someone refuses to let a subject rest , they refuse to stop talking about it, especially after they have been talking about it for a long time.
let loose sth
If someone lets loose a sound or remark , they make it, often suddenly .
let off steam
to do or say something which helps you to get rid of your strong feelings about something
let someone be
To let someone be means to leave them alone and not interfere in what they are doing.
let sth slide
If you let something slide , you allow it to get into a worse state or condition by not attending to it.
let us assume
You can use let us assume or let's assume when you are considering a possible situation or event, so that you can think about the consequences .
let oneself go
If you let yourself go , you relax and behave much more freely than usual .
let me/let's see
People say ' let me see ' or ' let's see ' when they are trying to remember something, or are trying to find something.
let loose (with)
to set free or give out; release
let's face it
You use the expression ' let's face it ' when you are stating a fact or making a comment about something which you think the person you are talking to may find unpleasant or be unwilling to admit .
let someone stew
to deliberately leave someone to worry about something, for example the consequence of their actions, and to not do anything to comfort or help them
let something rip
If you let something rip , you do it as quickly or as forcefully as possible . You can say ' let it rip ' or ' let her rip ' to someone when you want them to make a vehicle go as fast as it possibly can.
to let off steam
If you let off steam , you get rid of your energy , anger , or strong emotions with physical activity or by behaving in a noisy or violent way .
let the side down
to disappoint people by doing something badly or by doing something which people do not approve of
let your hair down
to relax and enjoy yourself, without worrying about behaving politely
let oneself in for
If you say that you did not know what you were letting yourself in for when you decided to do something, you mean you did not realize how difficult , unpleasant , or expensive it was going to be.
live and let live
to refrain from interfering in others' lives; to be tolerant
to let go of sth
If you let go of a feeling , attitude , or the control that you have over something, you accept that you should give it up or that it should no longer influence you.
let it all hang out
If you let it all hang out , you relax completely and enjoy yourself without worrying about hiding your emotions or behaving politely.
Chinese translation of 'let'
let
(lɛt)
Word forms:ptpplet
vt
to let sb do sth (= give permission) 允许(許)某人做某事 (yǔnxǔ mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
⇒ My parents wouldn't let me go out with boys.我父母不许我与男孩子们一起交往。 (Wǒ fùmǔ bùxǔ wǒ yǔ nánháizimen yīqǐ jiāowǎng.)
to let sth happen让(讓)某事发(發)生 (ràng mǒushì fāshēng)
⇒ People here let everyone else do the work.这里的人让别人做工作。 (Zhèlǐ de rén ràng biérén zuò gōngzuò.)
(Brit, = lease) (also let out)
出租 (chūzū)
⇒ She is thinking of letting her house to an American serviceman.她在想把房子租给一个美国军人。 (Tā zài xiǎng bǎ fángzi zū gěi yī gè Měiguó jūnrén.)
美 = rent
to let sb know that ... 告诉(訴)某人 ... (gàosù mǒurén ... )
to let sb in/out让(讓)某人进(進)去/出去 (ràng mǒurén jìnqù/chūqù)
let me explain/help让(讓)我来(來)解释(釋)/帮忙 (ràng wǒ lái jiěshì/bāngmáng)
he can't afford his rent, let alone a holiday他付不起房租，更别(別)提度假了 (tā fù bù qǐ fángzū, gèng bié tí dùjià le)
"to let""现(現)房待租" ("xiànfáng dàizū")
to let go (= release one's grip) 松(鬆)开(開) (sōngkāi)
to let go of (= stop holding) 松(鬆)开(開) ... (sōngkāi ... )
to let sb/sth go (= release) 放走某人/某物 (fàngzǒu mǒurén/mǒuwù)
⇒ Eventually I let the frog go.最后，我放走了青蛙。 (Zuìhòu, wǒ fàngzǒule qīngwā.)
to let o.s. go (= relax) 放得开(開) (fàng de kāi) (= neglect o.s.) 不修边(邊)幅 (bù xiū biānfú)
All related terms of 'let'
let in
( water, air ) 允许(許)进(進)来(來) yǔnxǔ jìnlái
let off
( culprit ) 放过(過) fàngguò ⇒ He let me off with a warning. → 他给我一个警告就放过我了。 Tā gěi wǒ yī gè jǐnggào jiù fàngguò wǒ le.
let on
▶ not to let on that ... 不泄(洩)露出去 ... bù xièlòu chūqù ...
let out
( water, air, breath ) 放掉 fàngdiào
let up
( cease ) 停止 tíngzhǐ ⇒ We thought the rain would let up soon. → 我们觉得雨不久会停。 Wǒmen juéde yǔ bùjiǔ huì tíng.
"to let"
"现(現)房待租" "xiànfáng dàizū"
let down
( fail : person ) 令 ... 失望 lìng ... shīwàng ⇒ Charlie's never let me down yet. → 查理从来没有令我失望过。 Chálǐ cónglái méiyǒu lìng wǒ shīwàng guo.
to let go
( release one's grip ) 松(鬆)开(開) sōngkāi
let alone ...
更谈(談)不上 ... gèng tán bù shàng ...
to let go of
( stop holding ) 松(鬆)开(開) ... sōngkāi ...
to let o.s. go
( relax ) 放得开(開) fàng de kāi
to let off steam
发(發)泄(洩) fāxiè
let me explain/help
让(讓)我来(來)解释(釋)/帮忙 ràng wǒ lái jiěshì/bāngmáng
to let out a yell
大喊一声(聲) dà hǎn yī shēng
to let sb do sth
( give permission ) 允许(許)某人做某事 yǔnxǔ mǒurén zuò mǒushì ⇒ My parents wouldn't let me go out with boys. → 我父母不许我与男孩子们一起交往。 Wǒ fùmǔ bùxǔ wǒ yǔ nánháizimen yīqǐ jiāowǎng.
to let sb in/out
让(讓)某人进(進)去/出去 ràng mǒurén jìnqù/chūqù
to let sb off sth
允许(許)某人不用做某事 yǔnxǔ mǒurén bùyòng zuò mǒushì
to let sb/sth go
( release ) 放走某人/某物 fàngzǒu mǒurén/mǒuwù ⇒ Eventually I let the frog go. → 最后，我放走了青蛙。 Zuìhòu, wǒ fàngzǒule qīngwā.
to let slip that ...
无(無)意中透露 ... wúyì zhōng tòulù ...
to let sth happen
让(讓)某事发(發)生 ràng mǒushì fāshēng ⇒ People here let everyone else do the work. → 这里的人让别人做工作。 Zhèlǐ de rén ràng biérén zuò gōngzuò.