let

let — verb

1. to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an action or event from taking place.

Example

Diego let his younger sister borrow his bicycle for the afternoon.

let + person + do something (infinitive without to)

The teacher let the class leave five minutes early after the quiz.

Common collocations
  • let someone go
  • let someone leave
  • let something happen
  • let someone borrow
  • let someone stay
  • let me know
  • let someone do something
  • will not let
  • let it be
Synonyms
  • allow

    more formal than 'let'; can be used in passive ('be allowed to')

  • permit

    more official; usually involves rules or written permission

  • authorize

    formal; used when someone in power gives official approval

Antonyms
  • forbid

    to order someone not to do something

  • prevent

    to stop something from happening

Grammar Patterns

let + person/thing + infinitive without to

let + something + happen

Usage Note

The verb after 'let' is always an infinitive without 'to'. Frequently used with 'will/won't' to talk about rules and permission.

Common Mistakes

My mom let me to go to the party.
My mom let me go to the party.
'let' is followed by the bare infinitive (no 'to').
She let him to use her phone.
She let him use her phone.
Same rule: after 'let', drop the 'to'.

2. to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if it is not what you wanted.

Example

Emre knew he could not change his sister's mind, so he let her make her own choice.

let + person + do something (resigned acceptance)

After trying to fix the leak for an hour, Asher let it be and called a real plumber.

fixed phrase: let it be

Common collocations
  • let things go
  • let it be
  • let it slide
  • let nature take its course
  • let someone have their way
  • let the matter drop
Synonyms
  • allow (to happen)

    more neutral; 'let' in this sense carries a tone of reluctant acceptance

  • tolerate

    stronger connotation of enduring something unpleasant

Antonyms
  • resist

    to fight against something instead of accepting it

  • prevent

    to stop something from happening

Grammar Patterns

let + person/thing + verb

let + something + be/go/pass

Usage Note

Frequently occurs in fixed expressions ('let it be', 'let things go', 'let it slide'). Unlike GIVE PERMISSION sense, this sense emphasizes the speaker's willingness to stop fighting the outcome.

3. a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches or dramatic writing.

Example

Let the rain come — the crops need it badly this year.

let + noun + verb (wish formula)

Let peace finally be restored to the troubled region.

Common collocations
  • let there be
  • let no one
  • let hope
  • let peace
Synonyms
  • may

    more formal and slightly old-fashioned; 'May peace return' is equivalent to 'Let peace return'

Grammar Patterns

let + noun + verb (wish formula)

Usage Note

Almost never used in past tenses. Common in prayers, speeches, blessings, and literary writing. Modern conversational use is restricted to fixed expressions such as 'let's hope'.

4. used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person s

4.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2
Definition

used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person speaking as well as the person being spoken to.

Example

Let's meet at the library after school and work on the project together.

let's + verb (suggestion)

The café closes in ten minutes, so let's order quickly.

Common collocations
  • let's go
  • let's see
  • let's try
  • let's not
  • let's say
  • let's start
  • let's hope
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

let's + verb

let's not + verb

let's + verb + shall we?

Usage Note

The contracted form 'let's' (without apostrophe: 'lets') is a common spelling mistake. The tag question for 'let's' suggestions is 'shall we?', not 'don't we?'.

Common Mistakes

Lets go to the park.
Let's go to the park.
'let's' needs the apostrophe to mean 'let us'.

5. to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you

5.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you money on a regular basis.

Example

The Watanabe family lets their apartment to students during the summer holidays.

let + property + to + person

Stefan decided to let his garage to a neighbor who needed storage space.

Common collocations
  • let a room
  • let a flat
  • let a house
  • let property
  • let to someone
  • let for a price
  • to let
  • rooms to let
Synonyms
  • rent out

    used in both British and American English

  • lease

    more formal; involves a longer-term legal contract

  • hire out

    British English, often for equipment rather than property

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

let + property + to + person

let + property + for + price

Usage Note

Chiefly British English. In American English, 'rent' or 'rent out' is used instead. This sense is distinct from the noun 'let' which refers to a rental agreement.

Common Mistakes

I want to let a car for the weekend.
I want to rent a car for the weekend.
'let' in British English means 'to rent out to someone', not 'to rent from someone'. When you are the customer, use 'rent' or 'hire'.
Phrasal verbs

let down

phrasal verb

To disappoint someone by not doing what you promised or expected.

She promised to help, but she let me down.

Don't let down your teammates by quitting now.

let in for

phrasal verb

To cause someone to become involved in something unpleasant.

His careless remark let him in for a lot of trouble.

I didn't know what I was letting myself in for when I agreed.

let in on

phrasal verb

To allow someone to know a secret or participate in something.

They let me in on their plan to surprise her.

Will you let me in on the secret?

let into

phrasal verb

To allow someone to enter a place or to share a secret with them.

The guard let us into the building after checking our IDs.

She let me into her confidence and told me everything.

let off

phrasal verb

To not punish someone severely, or to allow someone to leave a vehicle.

The teacher let him off with a warning.

The bus driver let us off at the next stop.

let on

phrasal verb

To reveal a secret or show that you know something.

She knew about the surprise but didn't let on.

Don't let on that I told you about the party.

let out

phrasal verb

To allow someone or something to leave, or to make a sound.

She let the dog out into the garden.

He let out a loud scream when he saw the spider.

let up

phrasal verb

To become less intense or to stop.

The rain finally let up after three hours.

She worked all day without letting up.

Idioms

let somebody/something be

idiom

To stop trying to change or control someone or something.

I know I'm being grumpy, but please just let me be.

She wanted to fix the painting, but he told her to let it be.

let fall something

idiom

To mention something in a conversation, often as if by accident.

During dinner, she let fall a hint about the surprise party.

He let fall that he was planning to resign next month.

let somebody go

idiom

To allow someone to leave or to release them from captivity or employment.

The kidnappers finally let the hostages go unharmed.

The company had to let go 50 employees due to budget cuts.

let something go

idiom

To stop taking care of something, like a house or garden.

I'm afraid I've let the garden go this year.

He let the house go after his wife passed away.

let somebody have it

idiom

To attack someone physically or with strong words.

When he insulted her, she really let him have it.

The boxer let his opponent have it with a powerful punch.

let it go (at that)

idiom

To stop talking or doing something about a matter.

I don't agree, but I'll let it go at that.

She wanted to argue, but decided to let it go.

let me see/think | let's see

idiom

Used when you are thinking or trying to remember something.

Let me see, where did I put my keys?

Let's see, the meeting is at three, right?

let's just say

idiom

Used to suggest that the truth is more extreme than what is stated.

Let's just say he wasn't very happy about the decision.

Let's just say the party was a bit wild.

let us say

idiom

Used when making a suggestion or giving an example.

I can let you have it for, let us say, $100.

Let us say you win the lottery, what would you do?

let yourself go

idiom

To behave freely and without worrying about others' opinions.

Come on, enjoy yourself—let yourself go!

At the party, she let herself go and danced all night.

to let

idiom

Available for rent.

The website advertises flats to let in the local area.

There is a sign outside saying 'house to let'.

let — adverb

let — noun

let — suffix

let — noun suffix

Word family

  • letting
    nounB2
  • let-down
    nounB2
  • let-up
    nounC1
  • lessor
    nounC1
  • lease
    nounB2
  • landlord
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Let', 'allow', 'permit', and 'authorize' all relate to giving someone the freedom to do something, but they differ in formality and grammatical structure. 'Let' is the most informal and conversational; it requires a bare infinitive without 'to' ('let me go'). 'Allow' is more neutral and can be used in both speech and writing; it takes a to-infinitive ('allow me to go') and can be passive ('I was allowed to go'). 'Permit' is more formal than 'allow' and is often used in official rules or written signs ('Smoking is not permitted'). 'Authorize' is the most formal, implying official approval from someone with recognized authority ('The manager authorized the refund'). For everyday situations involving parents, teachers, or friends, 'let' is the most natural choice. For written rules and formal contexts, 'allow' or 'permit' fits better.

allowpermitauthorizelet

Common collocations

Nouns

  • let the cat out of the bag
  • let someone know
  • let someone have it
  • let someone down
  • let someone off the hook

Adverbs

  • let go
  • let in
  • let out
  • let down
  • let off
  • let up
  • let through

Phrases

  • let alone
  • let it be
  • let it go
  • let me see
  • let's face it
  • let's say
  • let there be
  • let well enough alone
  • live and let live

Prepositions

  • let into
  • let out of
  • let off with
  • let in on

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Modern English 'let' comes from two different Old English words that gradually merged. The 'allow/permit' meaning comes from Old English 'lǣtan' (to allow, leave behind), from Proto-Germanic *lētaną. The same root gave German 'lassen' and Dutch 'laten'. The 'rent' meaning developed from this sense of 'allowing someone to use property'. Meanwhile, the 'hindrance' meaning (now rare, in 'without let or hindrance') comes from a different Old English word 'lettan' (to hinder, delay), from Proto-Germanic *latjaną. These two originally separate verbs — one meaning 'to allow' and the other meaning 'to obstruct' — accidentally converged into the same spelling in Modern English, creating a fascinating pair of opposite meanings in a single word.