Definition of let verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

let

verb

let

let

letting, let, let

allow

1 [no passive] to allow somebody to do something or something to happen without trying to stop itlet somebody/something do something Let them splash around in the pool for a while.Don't let her upset you.Let your body relax.let somebody/something He'd eat chocolate all day long if I let him.

2 to give somebody permission to do somethinglet somebody/something do something They won't let him leave the country.let somebody/something She wanted to lend me some money but I wouldn't let her.

3 let somebody/something + adverb/preposition to allow somebody/something to go somewhereto let somebody into the houseI'll give you a key so that you can let yourself in.Please let me past.The cat wants to be let out.

making suggestions

4 let's [no passive] let (do something) used for making suggestionsLet's go to the beach.Let's not tell her what we did. (British English) Don't let's tell her what we did.I don't think we'll make it, but let's try anyway.‘Shall we check it again?’ ‘Yes, let's.’

offering help

5 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used for offering help to somebodyHere, let me do it.Let us get those boxes down for you.

making requests

6 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used for making requests or giving instructionsLet me have your report by Friday.

challenging

7 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used to show that you are not afraid or worried about somebody doing somethingIf he thinks he can cheat me, just let him try!

wishing

8 [no passive] let somebody/something do something (literary) used to express a strong wish for something to happenLet her come home safely!

introducing something

9 [no passive] let somebody/something do something used to introduce what you are going to say or doLet me give you an example.Let me just finish this and then I'll come.

in calculating

10 [no passive] let somebody/something do something (technical) used to say that you are supposing something to be true when you calculate somethingLet line AB be equal to line CD.

house/room

11 let something (out) (to somebody) (especially British English) to allow somebody to use a house, room, etc. in return for regular paymentsI let the spare room.They decided to let out the smaller offices at low rents.

Idioms

Most idioms containing let are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example let alone is at alone.

let fall something

to mention something in a conversation, by accident or as if by accident

Synonym

dropShe let fall a further heavy hint.

let somebody go

1 to allow somebody to be free

Synonym

freeWill they let the hostages go?2 to make somebody have to leave their jobThey're having to let 100 employees go because of falling profits.

let somebody/something go

let go (of somebody/something)

1 to stop holding somebody/somethingDon't let the rope go.Don't let go of the rope.Let go! You're hurting me!2 to give up an idea or an attitude, or control of somethingIt's time to let the past go.It's time to let go of the past.

let something go

to stop taking care of a house, garden, etc

I'm afraid I've let the garden go this year.Let the house go in order to spend time with the kids.

let yourself go

1 to behave in a relaxed way without worrying about what people think of your behaviourCome on, enjoy yourself, let yourself go!2 to stop being careful about how you look and dress, etcHe has let himself go since he lost his job.

let somebody have it

(informal) to attack somebody physically or with words

let it go (at that)

to say or do no more about something

I don't entirely agree, but I'll let it go at that.I thought she was hinting at something, but I let it go.

let me see/think

used when you are thinking or trying to remember something

Now let me see—where did he say he lived?

let us say

used when making a suggestion or giving an example

I can let you have it for, well let's say £100.

Phrasal verbs

let somebody down

to fail to help or support somebody as they had hoped or expectedI'm afraid she let us down badly.This machine won't let you down.He trudged home feeling lonely and let down. related noun let-down

let somebody/something down

to make somebody/something less successful than they/it should beShe speaks French very fluently, but her pronunciation lets her down.

let something down

1 to let or make something go downWe let the bucket down by a rope.2 to make a dress, skirt, coat, etc. longer, by reducing the amount of material that is folded over at the bottomThis skirt needs letting down.

Opposite

take up3 (British English) to allow the air to escape from something deliberatelySome kids had let my tyres down.

let somebody/yourself in for something

(informal) to involve somebody/yourself in something that is likely to be unpleasant or difficultI volunteered to help, and then I thought ‘Oh no, what have I let myself in for!’

let somebody in on something

let somebody into something

(informal) to allow somebody to share a secretAre you going to let them in on your plans?

let something into something

to put something into the surface of something so that it does not stick out from ita window let into a wall

let somebody off (with something)

to not punish somebody for something they have done wrong, or to give them only a light punishmentThey let us off lightly.She was let off with a warning.

let somebody off something

(British English) to allow somebody not to do something or not to go somewhereHe let us off homework today.

let something off

to fire a gun or make a bomb, etc. explodeThe boys were letting off fireworks.

let on (to somebody)

(informal) to tell a secretI'm getting married next week, but please don't let on to anyone.let that… She let on that she was leaving.

let out

(North American English) (of school classes, films/movies, meetings, etc.) to come to an end, so that it is time for people to leaveThe movie has just let out.

let somebody out

to make somebody stop feeling that they are involved in something or have to do somethingThey think the attacker was very tall—so that lets you out. related noun let-out

let something out

1 to give a cry, etcto let out a scream of terrorto let out a gasp of delight

Opposite

hold in2 to make a shirt, coat, etc. looser or larger

Opposite

take in

let up

(informal)1 to become less strongThe pain finally let up.2 to make less effortWe mustn't let up now. related noun let-up

Usage note: Moving houseRentinglive in a rented/(especially North American English) rental propertyrent/share/move into a furnished house/(British English) flat/(especially North American English) apartmentrent a studio/(British English) a studio flat/(especially North American English) a studio apartment/(British English) a bedsitfind/get a housemate/(British English) a flatmate/(North American English) a roommatesign/break the lease/rental agreement/contractextend/renew/terminate the lease/(British English) tenancyafford/pay the rent/the bills/(North American English) the utilities(especially British English) fall behind with/(especially North American English) fall behind on the rentpay/lose/return a damage deposit/(North American English) security depositgive/receive a month's/two-weeks' notice to leave/vacate the propertyBeing a landlordhave a flat/apartment/room (British English) to let/(especially North American English) for rentrent (out)/lease (out)/(British English) let (out)/sublet a flat/apartment/house/propertycollect/increase/raise the rentevict the existing tenantsattract/find new/prospective tenantsinvest in rental property/(British English) property to let/(British English) the buy-to-let marketBuyingbuy/acquire/purchase a house/(a) property/(especially North American English) (a piece of) prime real estatecall/contact/use (British English) an estate agent/(North American English) a Realtor™/(North American English) a real estate agent/brokermake/(British English) put in an offer on a houseput down/save for (British English) a deposit on a housemake/put/save for (especially North American English) a down payment on a house/homeapply for/arrange/take out a mortgage/home loan(struggle to) pay the mortgagemake/meet/keep up/cover the monthly mortgage payments/(British English also) repayments(British English) repossess/(especially North American English) foreclose on somebody's home/houseSellingput your house/property on the market/up for sale/up for auctionincrease/lower your price/the asking pricehave/hold/hand over the deed/(especially British English) deeds of/to the house, land, etc.

Usage note: rent / hire / letVerbsYou can hire something for a short period of time (British English only), but rent something for a longer period: We can hire bikes for a day to explore the town. ◇ We don’t own our TV, we rent it.In North American English, rent is always used. It is sometimes now used in British English instead of hire, too.The owners of a thing can hire it out for a short period (British English): Do you hire out bikes? Or they can rent (out)/let (out) a building, etc: We rent out rooms in our house to students.Outside a building you could see: To let (British English) ◇ For rent (especially North American English).To hire can also mean to employ somebody, especially in North American English: We hired a new secretary. see also lease v.NounsThe amount of money that you pay to rent something is rent or rental (more formal). When you hire something you pay a hire charge (British English). On a sign outside a shop you might see: Bikes for hire (British English). see also let, lease, hire n.