let alone

conjunction

: to say nothing of : not to mention
used especially to emphasize the improbability of a contrasting example
he would never walk again let alone play golfSports Illus.
how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a PresidentRobert Lacville

Examples of let alone in a Sentence

I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan.
Recent Examples on the Web Only those able to secure access or invest accordingly will survive, let alone secure an advantage. Aroosh Thillainathan, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024 Sanctions have made Russian weapon production more difficult and costly, and the deployment of troops to Ukraine has left Russia with barely enough forces to guard the rest of its long border, let alone mount a significant operation against other European states. Alex Crowther, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024 Understanding how the space changes throughout the day, let alone each season, is key. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024 Too weak to save herself, let alone overpower the much stronger husband. Joyce Carol Oates, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024 Following such a massive and direct attack on Israel, the entire world, let alone Israel, cannot settle for inaction. NBC News, 15 Apr. 2024 These two n-s that I’ve just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase — chase their greatness, right? Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024 There are no large expanses of green or embankments close enough to the Renaissance Center that would accommodate a sign of this size in such a location, let alone the obvious construction and road closures that would have needed to take place to install a huge sign. Erin Marquis / Jalopnik, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024 That $170 was barely enough to support myself, let alone my two small children. Kolandro Bramble, Essence, 12 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'let alone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of let alone was in 1765

Dictionary Entries Near let alone

Cite this Entry

“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

let alone

conjunction
: to say nothing of : not to mention
lacked the courage, let alone the know-how
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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