LET Synonyms: 143 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'let' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of let are charter , hire , lease , and rent . While all these words 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'charter' instead of 'let'?

While the synonyms charter and let are close in meaning, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use. // charter a bus to go to the game

Q: When could 'lease' be used to replace 'let'?

The words lease and let can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Q: When might 'rent' be a better fit than 'let'?

Although the words rent and let have much in common, 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

let 1 of 2

verb

ˈlet

Definition of let next

as in to allow

to give permission to my parents would not let me drive until I had a job and could pay for my own gas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to rent

chiefly British to give the possession and use of (something) in return for periodic payment the pensioner has begun letting rooms in her home to earn some extra money

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to enable

to make able or possible the low gravity on the moon lets you make enormous leaps and jumps

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to tolerate

to fail to prevent (some behavior on someone's part) especially from neglect or indifference they let their kids get away with murder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

let

2 of 2

noun

as in obstacle

something that makes movement or progress difficult artists are allowed to sell their goods in the public square without let or hindrance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word let different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of let are charter, hire, lease, and rent. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use charter instead of let?

While the synonyms charter and let are close in meaning, charter applies to the hiring or letting of a vehicle usually for exclusive use.

charter a bus to go to the game

When could lease be used to replace let?

The words lease and let can be used in similar contexts, but 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

When might rent be a better fit than let?

Although the words rent and let have much in common, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of let

Verb

This was not a soul laid bare but one that sat there and let something come to it. —

Karl Ove Knausgaard, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025 Test Kitchen Tip: Don't skip letting the chocolate mixture cool before moving onto the next step. —

Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2025 In a hilarious new teaser for Uber Eats’ upcoming Super Bowl commercial, the businesswoman lets Charli XCX know in no uncertain terms that she’s never heard of her before. —

Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2025 Campbell wouldn’t let the players — or himself, for that matter — soak in last season’s stirring run to the NFC Championship Game. —

Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for let

Recent Examples of Synonyms for let

Verb

The report found that the dentistry school’s implementation of a profit-sharing program that allows some health science faculty to receive additional compensation violated university policy because it was funded by student fees, rather than the clinic’s income from professional services.

— Alexis Timko, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
These absences contributed to a defense that allowed over 30 points in four of its last six games, and Saturday was no exception, with the Lions forcing just one punt and allowing 481 net yards of offense.

— David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025