let

play

verb \ˈlet\

Definition of let

letted

;

letted

let

;

letting

archaic

transitive verb
: hinder, prevent

Origin and Etymology of let

Middle English letten, from Old English lettan to delay, hinder; akin to Old High German lezzen to delay, hurt, Old English lǣt late

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

let

noun

Definition of let

1 : something that impedes : obstruction ruled his little world without hindrance or let — B. F. Reilly
2 : a shot or point in racket games that does not count and must be replayed

See let defined for English-language learners

See let defined for kids

Examples of let in a Sentence

The first serve was a let.
a private resort that allows vacationers to experience without let the joys of nudism

First Known Use of let

12th century

let

verb

Definition of let

let

;

letting

transitive verb
1 : to cause to : make let me know
2a chiefly British : to offer or grant for rent or lease let roomsb : to assign especially after bids let a contract
3a : to give opportunity to or fail to prevent live and let live a break in the clouds let us see the summit let the opportunity slipb —used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal let us prayc —used as an auxiliary to express a warning let him try
4 : to free from or as if from confinement let out a scream let blood
5 : to permit to enter, pass, or leave let them through let them off with a warning
6 : to make an adjustment to let out the waist
intransitive verb
1 chiefly British : to become rented or leased
2 : to become awarded to a contractor

let alone

: to leave undisturbed let the flowers alone; also : to leave to oneself wanted to be let alone

let fly

1 : to hurl an object
2 : to give unrestrained expression to an emotion or utterance let fly with some sharp rebukes — Janice Castro

let go

1 : to dismiss from employment the firm let him go at the end of the month
2 : to abandon self-restraint : let fly spoke in clipped sentences, as if fearful of letting go — David Kline there just to party, just to let go — Philippe Vergne
3 : to relax or release one's hold —used with of let go of stress — Kathy McCoy let go of my arm
4 : to fail to take care of : neglect let himself go and got real fat — Bill Parcells

let it all hang out

: to reveal one's true feelings : act without dissimulation

let one have it

: to subject to vigorous assault

let one's hair down

: to act without pretense or self-restraint

let rip

1 : to utter or release without restraint let 'er rip
2 : to do or utter something without restraint let rip at the press

let the cat out of the bag

: to give away a secret

Origin and Etymology of let

Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of let

hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use. we hired a car for the summer decided to let the cottage to a young couple lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease. the diplomat leased an apartment for a year rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting. instead of buying a house, they decided to rent will not rent to families with children charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use. charter a bus to go to the game

-let

noun suffix

Definition of -let

1 : small one booklet
2 : article worn on wristlet

Origin and Etymology of -let

Middle English, from Middle French -elet, from -el, diminutive suffix (from Latin -ellus) + -et

LET Defined for English Language Learners

let

noun

Definition of let for English Language Learners

tennis : a serve that is not accepted or allowed officially and must be done again

-let

noun suffix

Definition of -let for English Language Learners

: small one

LET Defined for Kids

let

play

verb \ˈlet\

Definition of let for Students

let

;

letting

1 : to allow or permit to Let them go.
2 : to allow to go or pass Let me through.
3 : to cause to : make Let it be known that I'm not going to confess.
4 : ²rent 2 rooms to let
5 —used as a warning Just let him try to do it again!

let alone

: to leave undisturbed

let down

: disappoint Don't let me down.

let go

1 : to relax or release a grip Please let go of my arm.
2 : to dismiss from employment
3 : to fail to take care of They let the garden go.

let on

: to admit or reveal … Sam Fraunces never let on that he knew any of them. — Judith Berry Griffin, Phoebe the Spy

let up

1 : to slow down
2 : ¹stop 4, cease The rain has finally let up.

-let

noun suffix \lət\

Definition of -let for Students

1 : small one booklet
2 : something worn on anklet

Law Dictionary

let

verb

Legal Definition of let

let

letting

transitive verb
1 : to offer or grant for rent, lease, or hire : lease may not be alienated, let, or encumbered corporeal things may be let out
2 : to assign especially after bids were attempting to let a contract without going through the bidding process — Union Springs Tel. Co. v. Rowell, 623 So. 2d 732 (1993)
intransitive verb
1 : to become rented, leased, or hired
2 : to become awarded to a contractor

Learn More about let

See words that rhyme with let Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for let Spanish Central: Translation of let Nglish: Translation of let for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of let for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about let

Seen and Heard

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let

Definition of let

letted

letted

let

letting

transitive verb

From the M-W Editors

Origin and Etymology of let

let

Definition of let

Examples of let in a Sentence

First Known Use of let

let Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

let

Definition of let

let

letting

transitive verb

intransitive verb

let alone

let fly

let go

let it all hang out

let one have it

let one's hair down

let rip

let the cat out of the bag

Origin and Etymology of let

Synonym Discussion of let

-let

Definition of -let

Origin and Etymology of -let

LET Defined for English Language Learners

let

Definition of let for English Language Learners

-let

Definition of -let for English Language Learners

LET Defined for Kids

let

Definition of let for Students

let

letting

let alone

let down

let go

let on

let up

-let

Definition of -let for Students

Law Dictionary

let

Legal Definition of let

let

letting

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Learn More about let

Seen and Heard

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