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¹let

verb \ˈlet\

let·tedletted or letlet·ting

Definition of LET

transitive verb

archaic

: hinder, prevent

Origin of LET

Middle English letten, from Old English lettan to delay, hinder; akin to Old High German lezzen to delay, hurt, Old English lǣt late

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with LET

bet, debt, fret, get, het, jet, Lett, met, net, pet, ret, set, stet, sweat, Tet, threat, vet, wet, whet, yet

²let

noun

tennis : a serve that is not accepted or allowed officially and must be done again

Full Definition of LET

: something that impedes : obstruction <ruled his little world without hindrance or let — B. F. Reilly>

: a shot or point in racket games that does not count and must be replayed

See let defined for English-language learners

See let defined for kids

First Known Use of LET

12th century

Related to LET

Synonyms: balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, encumbrance, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel

³let

verb

letlet·ting

Definition of LET

transitive verb

: to cause to : make <let me know>

a chiefly British : to offer or grant for rent or lease <let rooms>

b : to assign especially after bids <let a contract>

a : to give opportunity to or fail to prevent <live and let live> <a break in the clouds let us see the summit> <let the opportunity slip>

b —used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal <let us pray>

c —used as an auxiliary to express a warning <let him try>

: to free from or as if from confinement <let out a scream> <let blood>

: to permit to enter, pass, or leave <let them through> <let them off with a warning>

: to make an adjustment to <let out the waist>

intransitive verb

chiefly British : to become rented or leased

: to become awarded to a contractor

— let alone

: to leave undisturbed <let the flowers alone>; also : to leave to oneself <wanted to be let alone>

— let fly

: to hurl an object

: to give unrestrained expression to an emotion or utterance <let fly with some sharp rebukes — Janice Castro>

— let go

: to dismiss from employment <the firm let him go at the end of the month>

: to abandon self-restraint : let fly <spoke in clipped sentences, as if fearful of letting go — David Kline> <there just to party, just to let go — Philippe Vergne>

: to relax or release one's hold —used with of <let go of stress — Kathy McCoy> <let go of my arm>

: to fail to take care of : neglect <let himself go and got real fat — Bill Parcells>

— let it all hang out

: to reveal one's true feelings : act without dissimulation

— let one have it

: to subject to vigorous assault

— let one's hair down

: to act without pretense or self-restraint

— let rip

: to utter or release without restraint <let 'er rip>

: to do or utter something without restraint <let rip at the press>

— let the cat out of the bag

: to give away a secret

Origin of LET

Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan; akin to Old High German lāzzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian lėnas tranquil

First Known Use: before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of LET

hire, let, lease, rent, charter mean to engage or grant for use at a price. hire and let, strictly speaking, are complementary terms, hire implying the act of engaging or taking for use and let the granting of use <we hired a car for the summer> <decided to let the cottage to a young couple>. lease strictly implies a letting under the terms of a contract but is often applied to hiring on a lease <the diplomat leased an apartment for a year>. rent stresses the payment of money for the full use of property and may imply either hiring or letting <instead of buying a house, they decided to rent> <will not rent to families with children>. charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use <charter a bus to go to the game>.

LET Defined for Kids