let off

phrasal verb

let off; letting off; lets off

: to allow (someone) to get off a bus, an airplane, etc.

Could you let me off (the bus) at the next stop, please?

The bus stopped to let off a few passengers.

: to allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal) to go without being punished

The police officer let her off with just a warning.

They let him off easy/easily/lightly, if you ask me.

: to cause (something) to explode or to be released in a forceful way

let off a firecracker

opened the valve to let off pressure

Examples of let off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Read: Don’t be embarrassed to commit to the bit After initial ambivalence, many right-wing commentators decided that streakers were just letting off steam. —

Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024 Despite the celebratory announcement yesterday on the waterfront, this is a lose-lose-lose proposition as the PA is let off the (Red) Hook. Says who? —

New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 May 2024 The shootout was prompted by Hammonds-Ford, who pointed his handgun, which was modified into an automatic weapon, at an upward angle and let off a rapid succession of gunshots. —

Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 15 May 2024 The explosives flashed orange and let off plumes of black smoke upon detonation. —

Lea Skene, Fortune, 13 May 2024 The explosives flashed orange and let off a cloud of black smoke upon detonation, and the span crumpled into the water in seconds. —

Lea Skene, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2024 In a statement, Wanjiku Manyara, head of the Petroleum Institute of East Africa, the professional body overseeing the industry, said that the owners of the facility had already been tried and convicted of running an unsafe facility but were just let off with low fines in May 2023. —

Rael Ombuor, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 In turbulent times, parties can be a necessary vehicle for letting off steam, distraction, and finding joy, something that's particularly true in Ukraine right now. —

Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Dec. 2023 Schafer and Zegler also gave insight on what went on behind the scenes, such as how the cast let off steam during an intense movie shoot. —

Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 21 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'let off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.