let off
phrasal verb
let off; letting off; lets off
1
: to allow (someone) to get off a bus, an airplane, etc.
Could you let me off (the bus) at the next stop, please?
The bus stopped to let off a few passengers.
2
: to allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal) to go without being punished
The police officer let her off with just a warning.
They let him off easy/easily/lightly, if you ask me.
3
: to cause (something) to explode or to be released in a forceful way
let off a firecracker
opened the valve to let off pressure
Examples of let off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stomp the gas and the flat-six crescendos while letting off releases a raspy symphony accompanied by percussive bangs and pops.
—
Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Sassoon, a Republican, said the deal amounted to a quid pro quo, one that would see Adams let off the hook in exchange for giving Trump free rein to target New York City’s immigrant communities.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Tortorella, though, can’t be let off the hook for that team’s dramatic collapse, which included an eight-game losing streak and a string of unfortunate headlines.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Despite criticism from human rights groups and opposing legislators – some of whom let off smoke flares in Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday – the law was passed in a 136-27 vote, with support from Orban’s party and their minority coalition partner the Christian Democrats.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for let off
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Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Sassoon, a Republican, said the deal amounted to a quid pro quo, one that would see Adams let off the hook in exchange for giving Trump free rein to target New York City’s immigrant communities.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Tortorella, though, can’t be let off the hook for that team’s dramatic collapse, which included an eight-game losing streak and a string of unfortunate headlines.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Despite criticism from human rights groups and opposing legislators – some of whom let off smoke flares in Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday – the law was passed in a 136-27 vote, with support from Orban’s party and their minority coalition partner the Christian Democrats.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for let off
Cite this Entry
“Let off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20off. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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