# lest vs let

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### lest
*conjunction · IPA /lɛst/ · frequency rank #14,158*
For fear that; that not; in order to prevent something from happening; in case.

### let
*verb · IPA /lɛt/ · frequency rank #228*
To allow to, not to prevent (+ infinitive, but usually without to).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lest-vs-let