(lets, letting)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: The form 'let' is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1.
If you let something happen, you allow it to happen without doing anything to stop or prevent it.
Thorne let him talk...
She let the door slam...
I can't let myself be distracted by those things.
VERB: V n inf, V n inf, V pron-refl inf
2.
If you let someone do something, you give them your permission to do it.
I love sweets but Mum doesn't let me have them very often...
Visa or no visa, they won't let you into the country.
VERB: V n inf, V n prep/adv
3.
If you let someone into, out of, or through a place, you allow them to enter, leave, or go through it, for example by opening a door or making room for them.
I had to get up at seven o'clock this morning to let them into the building because they had lost their keys...
I'd better go and let the dog out...
VERB: V n prep/adv, V n prep/adv
4.
You use let me when you are introducing something you want to say.
Let me tell you what I saw last night...
Let me explain why...
VERB: only imper, V me inf, V me inf
5.
You use let me when you are offering politely to do something.
Let me take your coat...
Let me get you something to drink.
VERB: only imper, V me inf, V me inf [politeness]
6.
You say let's or, in more formal English, let us, to direct the attention of the people you are talking to towards the subject that you want to consider next.
Let's consider ways of making it easier...
Let us look at these views in more detail.
VERB: only imper, V us inf, V us inf
7.
You say let's or, in formal English, let us, when you are making a suggestion that involves both you and the person you are talking to, or when you are agreeing to a suggestion of this kind.
I'm bored. Let's go home...
'Shall we go in and have some supper?'-'Yes, let's.'
VERB: only imper, V us inf, V 's
8.
Someone in authority, such as a teacher, can use let's or, in more formal English, let us, in order to give a polite instruction to another person or group of people.
Let's have some hush, please...
'Let us pray,' said the Methodist chaplain.
VERB: only imper, V us inf, V us inf [politeness]
9.
People often use let in expressions such as let me see or let me think when they are hesitating or thinking of what to say next.
Now, let's see. Where did I leave my bag?...
'How long you been living together then?'-'Erm, let me think. It's about four years now.'
VERB: V pron inf, V pron inf [vagueness]
10.
You can use let to say that you do not care if someone does something, although you think it is unpleasant or wrong.
If he wants to do that, let him do it...
Let them talk about me; I'll be dead, anyway...
VERB: only imper, V n inf, V n inf
11.
You can use let when you are saying what you think someone should do, usually when they are behaving in a way that you think is unreasonable or wrong.
Let him get his own cup of tea...
VERB: only imper, V n inf
12.
You can use let when you are praying or hoping very much that something will happen.
Please God, let him telephone me.
VERB: only imper, V n inf
13.
You can use let to introduce an assumption on which you are going to base a theory, calculation, or story.
Let x equal 5 and y equal 3...
VERB: only imper, V n inf
14.
If you let your house or land to someone, you allow them to use it in exchange for money that they pay you regularly. (mainly BRIT)
She is thinking of letting her house to an American serviceman...
The reasons for letting a house, or part of one, are varied.
= rent
VERB: V n to n, V n
•
Let out means the same as
let. (
in AM, use rent
)
I couldn't sell the London flat, so I let it out to pay the mortgage...
Home owners who have extra space available may want to let out a room.
PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron)
15.
Let alone is used after a statement, usually a negative one, to indicate that the statement is even more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next.
It is incredible that the 12-year-old managed to even reach the pedals, let alone drive the car.
PHRASE [emphasis]
16.
If you let go of someone or something, you stop holding them.
She let go of Mona's hand and took a sip of her drink...
PHRASE: let inflects, oft PHR of n
17.
If you let someone or something go, you allow them to leave or escape.
They held him for three hours and they let him go...
PHRASE: let inflects
18.
When someone leaves a job, either because they are told to or because they want to, the employer sometimes says that they are letting that person go. (BUSINESS)
I've assured him I have no plans to let him go...
Peterson was let go after less than two years.
PHRASE: let inflects
19.
If you say that you did not know what you were letting yourself in for when you decided to do something, you mean you did not realize how difficult, unpleasant, or expensive it was going to be.
He got the impression that Miss Hawes had no idea of what she was letting herself in for...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu with brd-neg, PHR n
20.
If you let someone know something, you tell them about it or make sure that they know about it.
They want to let them know that they are safe...
If you do want to go, please let me know.
PHRASE: let inflects, oft PHR that/wh, PHR n, PHR about n
21.
to
let your
hair down: see
hair
to
let someone
off the hook: see
hook
to
let it be known: see
known
to
let the side down: see
side
to
let off steam: see
steam