let
/let/ (bre, ipa) · /let/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlet/ (ame, mw) · /-lət/ (bre, ipa) · /-lət/ (ame, ipa)
let — verb
- letpresent simple I / you / we / they
- letshe / she / it
- letting-ing form
1. to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an
to say yes to someone doing something that they want to do, or to not prevent an action or event from taking place.
Diego let his younger sister borrow his bicycle for the afternoon.
let + person + do something (infinitive without to)
The teacher let the class leave five minutes early after the quiz.
Nila's parents will not let her stay out past ten on school nights.
Sora let the vegetables simmer on the stove while he chopped more garlic.
Please let me know if you change your mind about the trip.
文法句型
let + person/thing + infinitive without to
let + something + happen
用法筆記
The verb after 'let' is always an infinitive without 'to'. Frequently used with 'will/won't' to talk about rules and permission.
常見錯誤
2. to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if
to stop opposing something or someone's behaviour, accepting the outcome even if it is not what you wanted.
Emre knew he could not change his sister's mind, so he let her make her own choice.
let + person + do something (resigned acceptance)
After trying to fix the leak for an hour, Asher let it be and called a real plumber.
fixed phrase: let it be
The referee let the play continue even though the crowd disagreed with the call.
Sometimes you just have to let things take their natural course and wait.
- allow (to happen)
more neutral; 'let' in this sense carries a tone of reluctant acceptance
- tolerate
stronger connotation of enduring something unpleasant
文法句型
let + person/thing + verb
let + something + be/go/pass
用法筆記
Frequently occurs in fixed expressions ('let it be', 'let things go', 'let it slide'). Unlike GIVE PERMISSION sense, this sense emphasizes the speaker's willingness to stop fighting the outcome.
3. a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches
a way of stating a fervent wish that something happen, common in solemn speeches or dramatic writing.
Let the rain come — the crops need it badly this year.
let + noun + verb (wish formula)
Let peace finally be restored to the troubled region.
Let no one forget the sacrifices made by the volunteers during the crisis.
Let the celebrations begin — the team has finally won the championship.
- may
more formal and slightly old-fashioned; 'May peace return' is equivalent to 'Let peace return'
文法句型
let + noun + verb (wish formula)
用法筆記
Almost never used in past tenses. Common in prayers, speeches, blessings, and literary writing. Modern conversational use is restricted to fixed expressions such as 'let's hope'.
4. used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person s
used to make a suggestion, offer, or mild instruction that includes the person speaking as well as the person being spoken to.
Let's meet at the library after school and work on the project together.
let's + verb (suggestion)
The café closes in ten minutes, so let's order quickly.
Let's not argue about the same thing again tonight, please.
Let's take a short walk along the beach, shall we?
- shall we...?
used in questions to make suggestions
- why don't we...?
a common conversational alternative to 'let's'
文法句型
let's + verb
let's not + verb
let's + verb + shall we?
用法筆記
The contracted form 'let's' (without apostrophe: 'lets') is a common spelling mistake. The tag question for 'let's' suggestions is 'shall we?', not 'don't we?'.
常見錯誤
5. to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you
to give someone the right to occupy your property for a set period by paying you money on a regular basis.
The Watanabe family lets their apartment to students during the summer holidays.
let + property + to + person
Stefan decided to let his garage to a neighbor who needed storage space.
Rooms in the old guesthouse are let by the week to travelers passing through.
My aunt lets her beach cottage to tourists from June through September each year.
- rent (from)
to pay money to use someone else's property
文法句型
let + property + to + person
let + property + for + price
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'rent' or 'rent out' is used instead. This sense is distinct from the noun 'let' which refers to a rental agreement.
常見錯誤
let — adverb
1. following a negative clause, this phrase introduces a more extreme situation tha
following a negative clause, this phrase introduces a more extreme situation that is even less likely than the one already stated as not true.
I can barely afford a bus ticket, let alone a plane ticket to Japan.
negative statement + , let alone + noun phrase
The baby cannot sit up yet, let alone walk across the room.
Allison had never been to Taipei before, let alone to any other city in Asia.
The team could not score a single goal, let alone win the championship trophy.
- much less
more formal; used in the same structure as 'let alone'
文法句型
negative clause + , let alone + noun phrase/clause
用法筆記
The phrase 'let alone' connects two clauses or noun phrases. The first part is negative or contains a negative word ('never', 'barely', 'hardly', 'scarcely'). The second part presents an even more extreme example.
常見錯誤
let — noun
- letsingular
- letsplural
1. in tennis and similar racket games, a serve or shot that hits the net and lands
in tennis and similar racket games, a serve or shot that hits the net and lands in the correct area, requiring the point to be replayed.
The umpire called a let after Ayesha's serve clipped the top of the net.
call a let
Ife's first serve hit the net cord, so the chair umpire ruled a let and she served again.
A let in tennis means you get to replay the point without any penalty.
The crowd groaned when the player's winning shot was ruled a let on the net cord.
- net ball
less formal; describes the same situation in casual play
用法筆記
Not to be confused with a 'fault' (a serve that lands outside the correct area). A let is replayed; a fault counts against the server's score.
2. a situation in which there is nothing preventing someone from doing something.
a situation in which there is nothing preventing someone from doing something.
The contract guarantees that goods may pass through the port without let or hindrance.
fixed legal phrase: without let or hindrance
Citizens have the right to travel freely within the country without let.
The new trade agreement allows capital to move across borders without let.
Under the terms of the will, the estate passes to the heirs without let.
- obstruction
everyday word for something that blocks or delays
- hindrance
paired with 'let' in the legal phrase
文法句型
without let or hindrance
用法筆記
Now largely confined to legal and formal writing. Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'without let or hindrance'. Rare in everyday conversation.
3. an arrangement or contract by which someone rents a house, flat, or other proper
an arrangement or contract by which someone rents a house, flat, or other property to another person for a period of time.
The tenants signed a two-year let on the office space near the train station.
signed a let (legal agreement)
Short-term holiday lets have become very popular in coastal towns.
The estate agent arranged a let on the third-floor flat within a week.
The agency specializes in holiday lets for families visiting the national park.
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'lease' or 'rental' is preferred for this meaning.
let — suffix
1. a group of letters added to the end of a noun to make a new noun meaning a small
a group of letters added to the end of a noun to make a new noun meaning a smaller or less important version of the original thing.
A booklet is a small book, often with a paper cover and just a few pages.
book + let = small book
A piglet is a young pig that has not yet grown to full size.
pig + let = young/small pig
The word 'leaflet' means a small sheet of printed paper, usually given out on the street.
There was a small islet just offshore where the seabirds nested each spring.
文法句型
[noun] + -let = smaller version
用法筆記
The suffix '-let' is not productive in modern English — you cannot freely add it to any noun. Common words using it (booklet, piglet, leaflet, bracelet, anklet) should be learned as whole vocabulary items.
let — noun suffix
1. a group of letters attached to a noun to show that the thing is small in size.
a group of letters attached to a noun to show that the thing is small in size.
An owlet is a young owl that still has its baby feathers.
owl + let = small/young owl
A small stream that flows away from a river is called a rivulet.
-let suffix: small stream = rivulet
A ringlet is a small curl of hair that hangs down from the head.
The queen wore a gold circlet around her head during the ceremony.
文法句型
[noun] + -let = small object
用法筆記
Overlaps with the DIMINUTIVE SUFFIX sense. This '-let' specifically marks the resulting noun as a physical object that is small.
2. a group of letters attached to the name of a body part to form a word for an ite
a group of letters attached to the name of a body part to form a word for an item of jewellery or clothing worn on that part.
An anklet is a decorative chain or band worn around the ankle.
ankle + let = jewellery worn on ankle
A wristlet is a small bag or band that attaches around the wrist.
The dancer wore a silver armlet high on her right arm during the performance.
The dancer wore a golden anklet that jingled as she moved across the stage.
文法句型
[body part] + -let = item worn on that body part
用法筆記
A narrow and specialised meaning of '-let'. Only a handful of English words follow this pattern, including 'anklet', 'wristlet', and 'armlet'.