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 Never mind that Trump has never been indicted for, let alone convicted of insurrection. Larry Elder, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 And the Deals and News Announcements Málaga’s Spanish Screenings content and Market came so soon on the heals of Berlin, that sales agents have only just begun to sign contracts off the German event, let alone clear announcements of Malaga business. John Hopewell, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The bus stop is an extension of the schools, and the students should feel safe enough to go to the bus stop, get on the bus and go to school and return home without fear of being attacked by other students, let alone another parent. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2024 The legislation hasn’t been referred to a committee, let alone set for a hearing. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 28 Feb. 2024 An e-mail like this should not even be opened, let alone allowed to go on for this long. Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 But the financial and trade restrictions have not precipitated an economic collapse, let alone persuaded the Kremlin to abandon its plans for conquest. David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 This does not leave much available area for the porcupine to move around, let alone use the bathroom multiple times and still be able to avoid his excreta. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Feb. 2024 Leaving the front door of my home was intimidating enough, let alone experiencing new environments, cultures, or countries. Sophie Morgan, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 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 18 Mar. 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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