Meaning of let In English

• 0 to allow something to happen or someone to do something by not doing anything to stop an action or by giving your permission:

  • She wanted to go but her parents wouldn't let her.

  • He decided to let his hair grow long.

  • Let your shoes dry completely before putting them on.

  • I'm letting you stay up late, just this once.

  • Don't let it worry you.

  • If he needs money, let him (= he should) earn it!

  • Let it rain - it won't spoil our afternoon.

  • Oh, please let him get the job!

• 1 used to express a suggestion or request that includes you and the other person or people:

  • Let's go out to dinner.

  • Let us consider all the possibilities.

  • Let's not ( UK also don't let's) argue.

• 2 to allow your house or land to be lived in or used by someone else in exchange for a regular payment:

  • They are letting their house (out) for the summer.

  • He's let his flat to a young couple.

  • She has a room to let in her house.

• 3 used after a negative statement to emphasize how unlikely a situation is because something much more likely has never happened:

  • Some people never even read a newspaper, let alone a book.

• 4 (in tennis or similar games) a situation in which the ball touches the net as it crosses it, so that you have to play the point again

• 5 without being prevented from doing something:

  • People will be able to travel from country to country without let or hindrance.

• 6 the act of allowing someone to use your house, land, etc. in exchange for regular payments:

  • a five-year let on a flat

• 7 small, not very important:

  • piglet

• 8 to allow something to happen or someone to do something by giving permission or by not doing anything to stop it from happening:

  • Fraya’s parents let her go to the movie.

  • He decided to let his hair grow long.

  • She opened the door and let me in (= allowed me to enter).

  • After questioning him for six hours, the police finally let him go (= released him).

• 9 to cause something to happen or to be in a particular condition, or to cause someone to understand something:

  • He let the pool empty.

  • Let me know if you need help.

  • He let out a shout (= He shouted).

• 10 let us I suggest that we:

  • For the sake of argument, let us assume that Rochelle is right.

  • After visiting the gift shop, let us proceed into Graceland itself.

• 11 to allow something to happen, or to allow someone to do something, by giving your permission or by not doing anything to stop an action:

  • We do not let our staff use social networking sites at work.

  • They had let the office accommodation become rundown and shabby.

• 12 to allow your house or land to be lived in or used by someone else in exchange for a regular payment:

  • let sth (out) to sb They are letting their house out for the summer.

  • He's let his flat to a young couple.

  • The Technology Park has office accommodation and business units to let.

  • let on sth The property is let on a 10-year lease.

  • The holiday apartments are let on a weekly basis.

• 13 to make someone leave their job:

  • Sales are down considerably and we've had to let some staff go.

  • I've only been let go twice in my career.

• 14 the act of allowing someone to use your house, land, etc. in exchange for regular payments:

  • let on sth a five-year let on a flat

  • short-term/long-term let We've taken the studios on a short-term let.

• 15 without being prevented from doing something:

  • People will be able to travel from country to country without let or hindrance.