verb

let

leht

verb

To allow someone or something to do a particular thing, or to happen without stopping it.

"My parents wouldn't let me stay out past midnight."

"Let the dough rest for an hour before baking."

To rent out a property to a tenant.

"They decided to let the flat while they worked abroad."

noun

In tennis or similar sports, a serve that touches the net but still lands legally, requiring a replay.

"The umpire called a let, so the point was replayed."

How to Use Let

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo allow something, or (in British English) to rent out property.

UK vs US

In UK English, "let" is the everyday word for renting out a property ("let the flat"); American English tends to say "rent it out" instead.

Common pairings

let someone do something let go let alone to let (a property)

Word Forms

let past tense, leet past tense, letten past tense, let past tense, letted past tense, lets plural, lets plural, lets singular, lettest singular, letteth singular, lettest singular, letteth singular, lets singular, lettest singular, letteth singular, lettest singular, letteth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

My parents wouldn't _____ me stay out past midnight.

Etymology

From Old English laetan, "to allow, leave, or bequeath," a very old Germanic verb related to German lassen.

Synonyms

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allow permit

Related Words

include allow dissent permission permit tolerate prohibit

Rhymes for let

valet inlet violet toilet outlet pellet bullet hamlet piglet amulet millet mallet

See all rhymes for let →

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allow permit include dissent permission tolerate prohibit