let 1 of 2

verb

ˈlet How to pronounce let (audio)
Definition of letnext
1
as in to allow
to give permission to my parents would not let me drive until I had a job and could pay for my own gas

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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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to tolerate
to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference they let their kids get away with murder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

let

2 of 2

noun

as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult artists are allowed to sell their goods in the public square without let or hindrance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
For the time being, Pritzker is letting his existing pension-reform proposal speak for itself. —David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025 Dozens more probationary employees were let go -- and then rehired after a court order overturned the administration's terminations. —Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025 Now, let us (and writer-creator Charlie Brooker) explain. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Despite legal challenges to these job cuts, estimates suggest that hundreds of thousands have been let go across numerous agencies as a result of the department's actions. —Daniel R. Depetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for let
Recent Examples of Synonyms for let
  1. allow
  2. rent
  3. enable
  4. tolerate
  5. obstacle
  6. permit
  7. lease
  8. ignore
Verb
  • Jena, Louisiana — An immigration judge in Louisiana on Friday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its effort to deport Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, upholding one of the deportation grounds cited by the government.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The June timing allows the studios taking part to show off their new wares soon after the LA Screenings in May, with many of the CEE buyers not making the trip to the U.S. and waiting to see the new U.S. shows closer to home.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of allow
Verb
  • For two months, Lee rented a room in West Harlem, about a 40-minute subway ride from the studio.
    — Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
  • If the museum later rents out space, licenses its brand or monetizes the new facility in other ways, investors could see a return on their participation.
    — Larry Bomback, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rent
Verb
  • Archer Aviation Archer's efforts to secure what's called 'Type Certification' from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Midnight could enable the eVTOL company to operate out of major airports.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Phishing attacks often attempt to get people to share personal information, like Social Security numbers, which enables criminals to access finances.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Despite their native habitat in moist woods and along stream banks, plants tolerate dry soil and drought.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Read the full Libra Daily Horoscope Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Sick and tired of tolerating it?
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • Many beneficiaries already face obstacles getting through to the Social Security’s phone lines to make an in-person appointment and then need to drive to a field office, said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
    — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Significant obstacles remain: insufficient private investment, market fragmentation across 27 member states, and regulatory complexity could undermine Europe's ambitions.
    — Federico Guerrini, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • The Court does not express an opinion on whether the Alien Enemies Act actually permits Trump to deport anyone.
    — Ian Millhiser, Vox, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Under former trade agreements, China committed to releasing 34 foreign films per year under revenue-share terms, with overseas studios permitted to a 25 percent share of ticket sales.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of permit
Verb
  • The state will lease Laurel Park racetrack for three years at a cost of one dollar per year.
    — Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Enfield Council owns the land the tree was located on, and it is leased to Toby Carvery.
    — Olivia Kemp, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of lease
Verb
  • Wallen briefly hugged the actress but seemed to ignore the rest of the cast and quickly walked past view of the camera.
    — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    — Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of ignore

Phrases Containing let

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lessors
let
let alone
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Cite this Entry

“Let.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/let. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on let

Nglish: Translation of let for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about let

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