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

Examples of let on in a Sentence

she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on
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.
The president is signaling that the U.S. is already more involved in the conflict than the White House previously let on, NPR's Franco Ordoñez tells Up First. Brittney Melton, NPR, 18 June 2025 Toyota has even let on that this concept will compete in race form in Japan’s Super Endurance Series starting with the race at Autopolis circuit on July 26-27, as the brand’s engineers tweak the powertrain and chassis to maximize feedback for the new Celica. Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025 Trump and other administration officials have painted a very different picture, however, suggesting publicly that the city is in far worse shape than local officials are letting on. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 Who first gave Read lawyer David Yannetti a tip that there might be much more to the death of John O’Keefe than the Norfolk County laws were first letting on? Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for let on

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of let on was in 1725

Cite this Entry

“Let on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20on. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on let on

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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