let alone

1 of 2

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 golf.

—Sports Illus.

how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a President

—Robert Lacville

let alone

2 of 2

phrase

: to leave undisturbed

let the flowers alone

also : to leave to oneself

wanted to be let alone

Synonyms of let alone

Conjunction

• not to mention

Examples of let alone in a Sentence

Conjunction

I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Conjunction

Her mother ocean is too hot and acidic, the culprit is anthropogenic carbon dioxide; how is an awabi to measure such a thing, let alone compensate for it? —Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

This comes as mosques and holy shrines have been important bases for the regime to spread the hardcore ideology its leaders stand by, which bans any kind of dance and music and scorns them as sins -- let alone tolerating them in public or at holy sites. —Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

That idea is likely a non-starter for the time being, since the NCAA and member schools still oppose college athlete employment, let alone college athlete unionization. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Feb. 2026

Success after such a hiatus was practically unheard of, let alone a run at the Olympic Games. —Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Conjunction

1765, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for let alone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

let alone

conjunction

: to say nothing of : not to mention

lacked the courage, let alone the know-how