let 1 of 2

1
2
as in to rent
chiefly British to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the pensioner has begun letting rooms in her home to earn some extra money

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to enable
to make able or possible the low gravity on the moon lets you make enormous leaps and jumps

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

let

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word let different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of let are charter, hire, lease, and rent. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use charter instead of let?

While the synonyms charter and let are close in meaning, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

When could lease be used to replace let?

The words lease and let can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When might rent be a better fit than let?

Although the words rent and let have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of let
Verb
Republicans will never let this dangerous idea happen. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025 So let your voice be heard and vote in the poll below. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 20 June 2025 The following week, Steve Bannon came on the show and said that the 2020 election was stolen; Newsom let this slide. Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 Their waiter’s indolence meant a long wait even for menus, yet neither of them let drop a word of complaint. Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for let
Recent Examples of Synonyms for let
Verb
  • If time allows, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2025
  • Also, allow yourself time to adjust to your new normal.
    Sherri Gordon, Parents, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • The real estate market for for-sale homes has been experiencing significant housing inventory challenges in recent years because of higher mortgage rates, keeping prices elevated and would-be homebuyers renting for longer.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • To make ends meet, he’s relied on renting out part of his property, as well as cashing his monthly Social Security check.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • This includes mini-rovers, crewed lunar rovers, and all kinds of instrumentation that will enable lunar exploration, development, and in-situ resource development.
    Space.com Staff, Space.com, 28 June 2025
  • Fresh droppings often contain viral RNA, enabling researchers to recover full genomes and assess the pathogenic potential of circulating strains.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • The boy's digestive system cannot tolerate lipids, which are fatty compounds or oils that are found in foods.
    Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025
  • This instills a culture of collaborative leadership, where differing styles aren’t just tolerated, they’re valued.
    Thierry Brunel, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Listen to this article The path back to the pinnacle was littered with obstacles.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 21 June 2025
  • But there’s a major obstacle: municipalities, not the national government, are responsible for managing stray animals.
    Lisa Klaassen, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Under state law, the inclusion of affordable housing permits the project to have more homes than otherwise allowed by city zoning on the property.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
  • There’s still a lot to learn about Wuchang: Fallen Feathers - how far will upgrades and progression permit you to diversify your playstyle?
    Joshua Lamb, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • The new company has leased some of the existing Modes boutiques and reopened units in Portofino, Porto Cervo and Forte Village in Italy, as well as Saint Moritz in Switzerland.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 13 June 2025
  • The provision exempts certain lands, like national parks and those leased for economic use, from sale.
    Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • While Paladino’s nonsense was rightfully ignored, a letter from a member of the House majority to the AG may not be ignored, especially this AG, especially under this president.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2025
  • Those who depend on freewheeling and shoot-from-the-hip strategies and tactics to address a crisis are ignoring or disregarding fundamental crisis management best practices that favor a calm, deliberate, and thoughtful approach.
    Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Let.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/let. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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