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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
The lovebirds also shared a few items and split before the check came, letting security take care of the bill, the gossip outlet adds. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025 Those let in received two-year protection from deportation and work permits. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025 Trump demanded that local officials not let the athlete compete in the state finals, but a 2013 law allows athletes to compete on any team that reflects their gender identity. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2025 In early 2024, rumors circulated online that Ramirez had been let go because of their outspoken advocacy for Palestine amid Israel’s ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 May 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
  • Unlike Ireland or Scotland, the U.S. offers a wide range of maturation environments, allowing American single malt whiskey to display a far broader array of expressions and a spectrum of aroma and taste profiles found nowhere else in the world.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • The computer then decodes these signals, allowing Smith to move a cursor on the screen with his thoughts alone.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2025
Definition of allow
Verb
  • There are 51 overall with 31 available to rent ranging from cliffside suites to seven-bedroom estates such as the new 9.513 square foot Wings which is on the market for $32.5 million but also available to rent by the week and has six freestanding bedrooms each with its own plunge pool.
    — Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Go big and rent a jet ski or pontoon boat, or take things down a notch with a kayak or standup paddleboard—all of which are available through Young Harris Water Sports & RV.
    — Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
Definition of rent
Verb
  • SpaceX is moving ahead with expansion plans at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, that will double its West Coast launch cadence and enable Falcon Heavy rockets to fly from California, Spaceflight Now reports.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
  • These portable devices need a SIM or eSIM and enable you to connect multiple gadgets via Wi-Fi.
    — Simon Hill, Wired News, 23 May 2025
Definition of enable
Verb
  • Marie Lodi My next session took place three months later, at which time Francis said my skin had tolerated the laser really well.
    — Marie Lodi, Allure, 1 June 2025
  • Which means that losing in the second round again, for instance, won’t be tolerated and could cost Treliving — set to enter the third year of what is, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, a four-year contract — his job.
    — Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of tolerate
Noun
  • The Times spoke to both sides, as well as multiple experts to better understand the high-stakes litigation, which faces obstacles but could shake up California’s home insurance industry.
    — Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
  • Kennedy’s announcement does not broadly address healthy adults, but under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will likely face obstacles.
    — Libby Richards, The Conversation, 29 May 2025
Definition of obstacle
Verb
  • If time permits, disconnect utilities and appliances.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2025
  • Our schools do not permit students in preschool through 8th grade to have cell phones on campus and high school students must keep cell phones off during instruction time, with fewexceptions.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 25 May 2025
Definition of permit
Verb
  • If these items and plans for the project are approved by the Naperville City Council, construction as soon as this fall and the homes could be fully leased by 2027 or 2028, Zach Grabijas with Lincoln Property Co. said.
    — Marie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • There are rumors on Capitol Hill that rather than redesigning these processes to suit a new era, in a fit of panic some senior decisionmakers are actually considering avoiding it all by just leasing services for core space warfighting missions.
    — Charles Beames, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Definition of lease
Verb
  • 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, 24 May 2025
  • Despite California having the Public Records Act and existing case law that bolsters the public’s right to know, Olson said that bureaucrats in many public institutions ignore the case law.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 May 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 4 Jun. 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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