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

At the Place de la Bastille, there were joyous scenes as fans climbed onto the base of the famous column, singing, dancing and letting off flares, while those around joined in. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025

There are flares everywhere, the Paris air covered in smoke, the smell is that of a kid’s birthday where too many party poppers have been let off. —Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 1 June 2025

The physical play that's allowed now really helps let off steam. —Jenn Nelson, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

The Hornets lit up the scoreboard early, posting a 49-7 lead at halftime, and then coach Matt Hedrick let off the gas. —Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2025

Rhymes for let off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff