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
Leiter responded with a strikeout, but a wild pitch let Lukes reach second before Ernie Clement hit a soft single to Volpe. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025 It was meant to encourage community and creativity, letting users showcase interesting prompts and responses. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025 That work stopped after all the federal staff who coordinate it were let go in April. Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 1 July 2025 My game in my words Malik Tillman usually lets his game do the talking, and the performances are getting louder – helped by some outrageous long-range goals (Top photo: Scott Wachter/Imagn Images) Paul Tenorio is a senior writer for The Athletic who covers soccer. Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for let
Recent Examples of Synonyms for let
Verb
  • The law went into effect on July 1, and allows pregnant women to use accessible parking spaces for up to one year after the date of issuance.
    Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2025
  • Plant hardy geraniums in spring after the last frost, which allows them to become established before hot summer weather sets in.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Lori also served as the executive director at the North Idaho Housing Coalition, a nonprofit organization that renovated homes to rent or sell to low-income families.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • However, for convenience and comfort, your best bet is to rent a car.
    Mae Hamilton, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • Offshore and domestic trusts can be structured to enable generational transfer while preserving legal separation.
    Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • The Tapo app detects motion and enables you to set activity zones and privacy zones.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • But since azaleas tolerate heavy pruning and respond by sending out new shoots all along remaining stems, the shrubs work well when sheared into a formal hedge.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2025
  • More precisely, Jews have been subjected to an invidious double standard: attacks, verbal and physical, that would never be tolerated against Blacks, gays and other minorities are not only tolerated, but often justified when directed at Jews.
    Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • These shifts signal a recognition that regulation is not an obstacle to progress but a critical enabler of responsible, adaptive innovation - especially when physically embedded in place.
    Kath Mackay, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Despite the obstacles, authorities from at least seven neighboring counties have followed countless tips in their hunt for Decker, with some leads running hot.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2025
  • Cooper noted that only personal items like a purse or brief briefcase are permitted, so don’t bring rolling bags, luggage and other unapproved items.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • The city of San Diego is preparing to lease its office tower at 101 Ash St. on a long-term basis, at no upfront cost, to a development team that plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to convert the property into housing for low-income families.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
  • The site of the development is county-owned and is being leased to Strategic Realty for a dollar a year, according to Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins.
    Grace Hurt, Arkansas Online, 27 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 13 Jul. 2025.

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