Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Let

//lɛt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The allowing of possession of a property etc. in exchange for rent.

    "Then he says “You would call it a Good Let, Madam?” “O certainly a Good Let sir.”"

  2. 2
    An obstacle or hindrance.

    "Without let or hindrance"

  3. 3
    a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again wordnet
  4. 4
    The hindrance caused by the net during serve, only if the ball falls legally.
Verb
  1. 1
    To allow to, not to prevent (+ infinitive, but usually without to). transitive

    "After he knocked for hours, I decided to let him come in."

  2. 2
    To hinder, prevent, impede, hamper, cumber; to obstruct (someone or something). archaic

    "He who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

  3. 3
    cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition wordnet
  4. 4
    To allow to be or do without interference; to not disturb or meddle with; to leave alone. transitive

    "Let me be!"

  5. 5
    To prevent someone from doing something; also to prevent something from happening. obsolete

    "& there was syr Mordred redy awaytynge vpon his londage to lette his owne fader to lāde vp the lande that he was kyng ouer. "And there was Sir Mordred ready awaiting upon his landing, to let his own father to land upon the land that he was king over.""

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    leave unchanged wordnet
  2. 7
    To allow the release of (a fluid). transitive

    "The physicians let about a pint of his blood, but to no avail."

  3. 8
    To tarry or delay. obsolete

    "And for that strake I would not let, / Another upon him soon I set, […]"

  4. 9
    actively cause something to happen wordnet
  5. 10
    To allow possession of (a property etc.) in exchange for rent. British, transitive

    "I decided to let the farmhouse to a couple while I was working abroad."

  6. 11
    consent to, give permission; permit wordnet
  7. 12
    To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; often with out. transitive

    "to let the building of a bridge;  to let out the lathing and the plastering"

  8. 13
    grant use or occupation of under a term of contract wordnet
  9. 14
    Used to introduce a first or third person imperative verb construction. auxiliary, transitive

    "Let's put on a show!"

  10. 15
    make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen wordnet
  11. 16
    To cause (+ bare infinitive). transitive

    "Can you let me know what time you'll be arriving?"

Etymology

Etymology 1

Derived from Middle English leten, læten, from Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent”), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to leave behind, allow”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to be tired, leave”). Cognates Cognate with Scots lat, lete (“to let, leave”), Yola leth (“let”), North Frisian leet, let, lätje (“to let”), Bavarian låssn (“to let”), Dutch, Low German laten (“to let, leave”), German lassen, laßen (“to let, leave, allow”), Luxembourgish loossen (“to let, leave”), Yiddish לאָזן (lozn, “to let”), Danish lade (“to let, allow, leave”), Faroese, Icelandic láta (“to let”), Norwegian Bokmål la (“to let, leave”), Norwegian Nynorsk la, lata, late (“let, allow”), Swedish låta (“to let, allow, leave”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (lētan, “to let”), Albanian lë (“to allow, let, leave”) and partially related to French laisser (“to let”).

Etymology 2

Derived from Middle English leten, læten, from Old English lǣtan (“to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent”), from Proto-West Germanic *lātan, from Proto-Germanic *lētaną (“to leave behind, allow”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to be tired, leave”). Cognates Cognate with Scots lat, lete (“to let, leave”), Yola leth (“let”), North Frisian leet, let, lätje (“to let”), Bavarian låssn (“to let”), Dutch, Low German laten (“to let, leave”), German lassen, laßen (“to let, leave, allow”), Luxembourgish loossen (“to let, leave”), Yiddish לאָזן (lozn, “to let”), Danish lade (“to let, allow, leave”), Faroese, Icelandic láta (“to let”), Norwegian Bokmål la (“to let, leave”), Norwegian Nynorsk la, lata, late (“let, allow”), Swedish låta (“to let, allow, leave”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐍄𐌰𐌽 (lētan, “to let”), Albanian lë (“to allow, let, leave”) and partially related to French laisser (“to let”).

Etymology 3

Derived from Middle English letten (“to hinder, delay”), from Old English lettan (“to hinder, delay”; literally, “to make late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lattjan, from Proto-Germanic *latjaną. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay”), Dutch letten, Old English læt (“late”). More at late, delay.

Etymology 4

Derived from Middle English letten (“to hinder, delay”), from Old English lettan (“to hinder, delay”; literally, “to make late”), from Proto-West Germanic *lattjan, from Proto-Germanic *latjaną. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay”), Dutch letten, Old English læt (“late”). More at late, delay.

See also for "let"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.