To give permission or opportunity to; allow: I let them borrow the car. The inheritance let us finally buy a house. See Usage Note at leave1.
To cause to; make: Let the news be known.
Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a command, request, or proposal: Let's finish the job! Let x equal y.
Used as an auxiliary in the imperative to express a warning or threat: Just let her try!
To permit to enter, proceed, or depart: let the dog in.
To release from or as if from confinement: let the air out of the balloon; let out a yelp.
To rent or lease: let rooms.
To award, especially after bids have been submitted: let the construction job to a new firm.
v.
intr.
To become rented or leased.
To be or become assigned, as to a contractor.
To cause to come down gradually; lower: let down the sails.
To withdraw support from; forsake.
To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.
To allow to be known; admit: Don't let on that you know me.
To pretend.
To come to a close; end: School let out early. The play let out at 11 P.M.
To make known; reveal: Who let that story out?
To increase the size of (a garment, for example): let out a coat.
To slow down; diminish: didn't let up in their efforts.
To come to a stop; cease: The rain let up.
Phrasal Verb(s): let down
To cause to come down gradually; lower: let down the sails.
To withdraw support from; forsake.
To fail to meet the expectations of; disappoint.
let on
To allow to be known; admit: Don't let on that you know me.
To pretend.
let out
To come to a close; end: School let out early. The play let out at 11 P.M.
To make known; reveal: Who let that story out?
To increase the size of (a garment, for example): let out a coat.
let up
To slow down; diminish: didn't let up in their efforts.
To come to a stop; cease: The rain let up.
Idiom(s):
let aloneNot to mention; much less: "Their ancestors had been dirt poor and never saw royalty, let alone hung around with them"(Garrison Keillor).
Idiom(s):
let goTo cease to employ; dismiss: had to let 20 workers go.
Idiom(s):
let off on Informal To cause to diminish, as in pressure; ease up on: Let off on the gas so that we do not exceed the speed limit.
Idiom(s):
let (one's) hair downTo drop one's reserve or inhibitions.
Idiom(s):
let (someone) have it Informal
To beat, strike, or shoot at someone.
To scold or punish.
Idiom(s):
let (someone) in on
To reveal (a secret) to someone: They finally let me in on their plans.
To allow someone to participate in (something).
Idiom(s):
let up onTo be or become more lenient with: Why don't you let up on the poor child?
[Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; see lē- in Indo-European roots.]
(lět) 