let on

verb

let on; letting on; lets on
Synonyms of let onnext

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.
But if that was the reason, Sullivan didn’t let on after the game, instead framing it as a teaching moment. Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2026 Which is a shame, really, because Adelman’s done a better job in his first season as Nuggets coach than social media would ever let on. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 In his LinkedIn post, Zandi said the VCI is near 5%, indicating further headwinds than the March jobs report lets on. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026 But the actual clinical evidence is more limited and more conditional than most wellness content lets on. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 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 20 Apr. 2026.

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

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