: 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.
Sports Illus.how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a President—Robert Lacville
Robert Lacvillelet alone
2 of 2phrase
: to leave undisturbed
let the flowers alone
also
: to leave to oneself
wanted to be let alone
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
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
With both options under 5% right now, then, and with both of these rates considerably higher just at the start of 2025, let alone 2023 or 2024, mortgage rates could now be low enough to justify taking action.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
The actions toward Nicaragua are punitive and proportionate to the dictatorship's conduct; there is no negotiation posture, let alone dialogue.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Rarely do such races capture the attention of national groups, let alone the president.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for let alone
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Conjunction
To this new arena of few big, let alone original, hits; to a place where expensive corporatized storytelling could hold no candle to the quick-turn, inexpensively made short videos young people watched or the quick-turn, inexpensively made long podcasts older people listened to.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 Dec. 2025
With both options under 5% right now, then, and with both of these rates considerably higher just at the start of 2025, let alone 2023 or 2024, mortgage rates could now be low enough to justify taking action.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
The actions toward Nicaragua are punitive and proportionate to the dictatorship's conduct; there is no negotiation posture, let alone dialogue.
—Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Rarely do such races capture the attention of national groups, let alone the president.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for let alone
Cite this Entry
“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
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