let on

verb

let on; letting on; lets on

intransitive verb

1

: to make acknowledgment : admit

knows more than he lets on

2

: to reveal a secret

nobody let on about the surprise party

3

: pretend

let on to being a stranger

Synonyms of let on

• pretend
• make believe
• make a show

Examples of let on in a Sentence

she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on

Recent Examples on the Web

But if the White House is concerned about attendance, Vance isn't letting on. — Tamara Keith, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026

If there’s anything flawed or complicated or even slightly offbeat about its title character, Tenzing isn’t letting on. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

As the drama with Salt Lake City climaxes, the rest of the Girls Trip women start to wonder if there’s more to the story than Lisa let on. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

The first report suggested that problems with the department’s gang officers were far more widespread than the department has publicly let on. — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for let on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

let on

verb

1

: admit sense 1b, reveal

don't let on that I told you

2

: pretend entry 1 sense 2

he's not as happy as he lets on