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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There may have been no chance that Kirby faced him three times under any circumstances, let alone in a one-run game. The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 Lawmakers cannot even agree if anyone is at the wheel, let alone the destination. Phil Elliott, Time, 8 Oct. 2025 If Charlotte is to find success on offense, let alone wins, in the back half of the season, Fitch must find ways to get his playmakers the ball in space and stay ahead of the chains. Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2025 Asking Sasaki to close each game in the series would be potentially taxing for any reliever with a triple-digit fastball, let alone a rookie who only became a reliever last month. Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for let alone

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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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