# let

> English word · Verb · IPA /lɛt/ · frequency rank #228

## Definitions
1. To allow to, not to prevent (+ infinitive, but usually without to).
2. To allow to be or do without interference; to not disturb or meddle with; to leave alone.
3. To allow the release of (a fluid).
4. To allow possession of (a property etc.) in exchange for rent.
5. To give, grant, or assign, as a work, privilege, or contract; often with out.
6. Used to introduce a first or third person imperative verb construction.
7. To cause (+ bare infinitive).

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **li** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-li)
- **Lt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lt)
- **lo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lo)
- **LP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lp)
- **LN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-ln)
- **Ls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-ls)
- **lg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lg)
- **lu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lu)
- **LF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lf)
- **LV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lv)
- **LR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lr)
- **LM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lm)
- **LJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lj)
- **lx** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lx)
- **LZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lz)
- **lot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lot)
- **low** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-low)
- **lol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lol)
- **lie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-lie)
- **los** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/let-vs-los)

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