Let — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈlet/

Meaning & Definition of Let

Let (verb)

  1. to cause to, make
  2. to give opportunity to or fail to prevent
  3. —used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal
  4. hinder, prevent

Let (noun)

  1. something that impedes, obstruction
  2. a shot or point in racket games that does not count and must be replayed

Let (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give permission to

    "my parents would not let me drive until I had a job and could pay for my own gas"

    similar: allow, leave, permit
    related: authorize, commission, empower, license, approve, endorse, sanction, free, liberate, release, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: enjoin, forbid, prohibit
    near: deter, discourage, bar, block, constrain, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent

  2. 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"

    similar: lease, rent
    related: charter, engage, hire, lodge, sublease, sublet, rack-rent

  3. to make able or possible

    "the low gravity on the moon lets you make enormous leaps and jumps"

    similar: allow, empower, enable, permit
    related: fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, approve, endorse, sanction, condition, equip
    opposite: prevent
    near: inhibit, preclude, disallow, enjoin, forbid, prohibit

  4. to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference

    "they let their kids get away with murder"

    similar: allow, permit, suffer, tolerate, put up with
    related: brush (aside or off), condone, disregard, ignore, overlook, shrug off, wink (at), excuse, forgive, pardon, brook, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge
    opposite: bar, block, constrain, prevent
    near: forbid, prohibit, curb, deter, discourage, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with)

Let (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something that makes movement or progress difficult

    "artists are allowed to sell their goods in the public square without let or hindrance"

    similar: balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel
    related: catch, hitch, rub, snag, barrier, blockade, blockage, brick wall, stone wall, arrest, bit, brake, check, constraint, curb, hobble, rein, restraint, embargo, stoppage, delay, holdup, stall, burden, cumber, load, danger, hazard, peril, reef, adversity, difficulty, disadvantage, drawback, hardship
    near: catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus, advantage, break, edge, aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden, help

Related Entry: Let alone (conjunction)

Let alone is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let alone, not for let.

  1. to say nothing of

    "I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan"

    similar: much less, never mind, still less, not to mention

Related Entry: Let down (verb)

Let down is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let down, not for let.

  1. to fall short in satisfying the expectation or hope of

    "with my poor performance I really felt that I had let my teammates down"

    similar: cheat, disappoint, dissatisfy, fail
    related: bum (out), chagrin, discontent, disgruntle, displease, distress, upset, disenchant, disillusion, deceive, delude, mock
    opposite: content, gratify, satisfy
    near: fulfill, gladden

Related Entry: Let on (verb)

Let on is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let on, not for let.

  1. to take on a false or deceptive appearance

    "she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on"

    similar: dissemble, dissimulate, make out, pretend, make a pretense, make a show, make believe, put on an act, put up a front
    related: act, impersonate, masquerade, play, playact, pose, affect, assume, counterfeit, fake, feign, profess, put on, sham, simulate, camouflage, conceal, disguise, mask, bluff, feint

Related Entry: Let on (about) (verb)

Let on (about) is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let on (about), not for let.

  1. to make known (as information previously kept secret)

    "we agreed not to let on about our marriage plans to anyone"

    similar: bare, disclose, discover, divulge, expose, reveal, spill, tell, unbosom, uncloak, uncover, unmask, unveil, bring to light, go public (with), let the cat out of the bag (about), spill the beans (about)
    related: confide, share, debunk, show up, unclothe, undrape, advertise, announce, blaze, bring out, broadcast, declare, placard, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish, sound, betray, blab, give away, leak, inform, squeal, talk, communicate, impart, relate, acknowledge, admit, avow, concede, confess, own, disinter, rake up, smoke out, unearth
    opposite: cloak, conceal, cover (up), enshroud, hide, mask, shroud, veil
    near: camouflage, disguise, gild, gloss (over), varnish, whitewash, becloud, bedim, befog, cloud, darken, eclipse, obscure, overcast, overshadow, shade

Related Entry: Let up (verb)

Let up is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let up, not for let.

  1. to come to an end

    "the rain let up just as we reached the house"

    similar: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  2. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "the windmill slowed down as the wind let up"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decline, decrease, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Related Entry: Let (someone) know (phrase)

Let (someone) know is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let (someone) know, not for let.

  1. to give information to

    "Let me know if have questions about the assignment."

    similar: acquaint, advise, apprise, brief, catch up, clear, clue (in), enlighten, familiarize, fill in, hip, inform, instruct, tell, verse, wise (up), keep (someone) posted
    related: advertise, alert, notify, announce (to), disclose (to), assure, certify, convince, reassure, warrant, educate, lecture, school, teach, tutor, disabuse, disenchant, disillusion, undeceive
    near: misinform, mislead

Related Entry: Let fly (phrase)

Let fly is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let fly, not for let.

  1. to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm

    "The pitcher let fly one of his famous fastballs."

    similar: cast, catapult, chuck, dash, fire, fling, heave, hurl, hurtle, launch, lob, loft, peg, pelt, pitch, sling, throw, toss
    related: bowl, dart, flip, gun, hook, pass, roll, shoot, buck, eject, impel, precipitate, project, propel, rifle, thrust

Related Entry: Let go (phrase)

Let go is a different word from Let. The synonyms below are for let go, not for let.

  1. to set free (from a state of being held in check)

    "It's time to let go of the past."

    similar: loose, loosen, release, uncork, unleash, unlock, unloose, unloosen
    related: discharge, emancipate, enfranchise, free, liberate, manumit, spring, unbind, uncage, unchain, unfetter, unmoor, unshackle, air, express, take out, vent
    opposite: bridle, check, constrain, contain, control, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, regulate, rein (in), restrain, smother, tame
    near: handcuff, manacle, shackle, trammel, bind, confine, enchain, fetter, halter, hamper

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Let

The most common words with a similar meaning to Let:

allow, leave, permit, lease, rent, empower, enable, suffer, tolerate, put up with, balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Let

Words with the opposite meaning of Let:

enjoin, forbid, prohibit, prevent, bar, block, constrain

Related Words for Let

authorize, commission, license, approve, endorse, sanction, free, liberate, release, cater (to), give in (to), humor, indulge, charter, engage, hire, lodge, sublease, sublet, rack-rent, fit, habilitate, prepare, qualify, ready, condition, equip, brush (aside or off), condone, disregard

Near Antonyms of Let

deter, discourage, curb, frustrate, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, preclude, disallow, interfere (with), catalyst, goad, impetus, incentive, spur, stimulant, stimulus, advantage, break, edge, aid, assistance, benefit, boost, handmaiden, help

Word Forms of Let

Inflections: letting, lets, letted

Origin & Etymology of Let

Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Let

Words & Phrases Containing Let

-let, let alone, let fly, let go, let down, let it all hang out

Frequently Asked Questions about Let

What does "Let" mean?

"Let" means to cause to, make. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to cause to, make. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Let"?

Other words for "Let" include allow, leave, permit, lease, rent, empower, enable and suffer. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Let" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Let"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Let". Common alternatives include allow, leave, permit, lease, rent, empower, enable, suffer, tolerate and put up with.

What is the opposite of "Let"?

Antonyms of "Let" include enjoin, forbid, prohibit, prevent, bar, block and constrain. Near antonyms include deter, discourage, curb and frustrate.

How do you use "Let" in a sentence?

Examples of "Let" in a sentence: "my parents would not let me drive until I had a job and could pay for my own gas"; "the pensioner has begun letting rooms in her home to earn some extra money"; "the low gravity on the moon lets you make enormous leaps and jumps".

Is "Let" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Let" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Let" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Let" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Let"?

"Let" is pronounced /ˈlet/.