as in to pretend
to take on a false or deceptive appearance
she's not half as innocent as she likes to let on
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Recent Examples of let on
Only the nearby pallets of bottled water and stacks of diapers let on this is an emergency setup.
—
Jessica Wakeman, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
Payne’s behavior was apparently even scarier than what Henry let on.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
And Jennifer Young Pierce, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of South Alabama, told The Hill that more women run the risk of developing cervical cancer than those numbers let on.
—Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
But with the reporting network realigned and any of its problems apparently behind it, Lululemon looks much better placed for a strong Christmas than its CEO is letting on.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for let on
Jessica Wakeman, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2024
Payne’s behavior was apparently even scarier than what Henry let on.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
And Jennifer Young Pierce, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of South Alabama, told The Hill that more women run the risk of developing cervical cancer than those numbers let on.
—Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
But with the reporting network realigned and any of its problems apparently behind it, Lululemon looks much better placed for a strong Christmas than its CEO is letting on.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for let on
Recent Examples of Synonyms for let on
pretend
Verb
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Scam warnings have been issued in multiple states over criminals pretending to be from the Department of Motor Vehicles.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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Johnson then dramatically threw the sweater across the front of her dress before relaxing deep into her seat and — now protected from any unwanted surprises — pretending to wipe the sweat from her brow.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Let on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/let%20on. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
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