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
  • Congress must create a proper immigration process and allow these good people to stay.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
  • If time allows, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 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
  • Homes worth more than $1 million which are rented out for most of the year would not be subject to the surcharge.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • And this summer, the calculations have been further complicated by FIFA allowing an additional, earlier short summer window to enable clubs competing in the upcoming Club World Cup to bolster their squads before the tournament.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 16 June 2025
  • Info-tainment and digital implementation that could enable customers to learn more about the brand are planned for the Sease store expected to open in Abu Dhabi in February 2026.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • The monthly injection was poorly tolerated, but the ongoing phase 3 study is designed to improve side effects.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 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
  • No one else in the courtroom was permitted to see the graphic videos.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 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
  • Despite weeks of calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump has been ignored by Putin, who continues his aggression.
    Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2025
  • If another catastrophe were to occur—especially one brought on by ignoring the essential stepping stone of the moon—the backlash could be far more severe.
    Avery Padraic Kerrigan, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Let.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/let. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on let

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!