let go

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"let-go" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“let go” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To release from one's grasp; to go from a state of holding on to a state of no longer holding on.

Key facts for let go
PropertyValue
Headwordlet go
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “let go” sits in English frequency

let go falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for let go is 6 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

let go doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct English form is let go, spelled L-E-T- -G-O.

Definition

  1. 1
    To release from one's grasp; to go from a state of holding on to a state of no longer holding on.
  2. 2
    To emotionally disengage or distract oneself from a situation.
  3. 3
    To dismiss from employment.
  4. 4
    To ignore (a comment, etc.).
  5. 5
    To fail to maintain a standard of appearance, behavior, or performance.
  6. 6
    To fail to maintain a standard of appearance, behavior, or performance.
  7. 7
    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see let, go.

This word in other languages

soltar(Español)lâcher(Français)loslassen(Deutsch)soltar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "let go"?
"let go" is spelled L-E-T- -G-O.
What does "let go" mean?
As a verb, "let go" means: To release from one's grasp; to go from a state of holding on to a state of no longer holding on.
What language does "let go" come from?
"let go" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “let go”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-E-T- -G-O - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list