let

verb
/lɛt/

To allow to, not to prevent + infinitive, but usually without .

Example

“After he knocked for hours, I decided to let him come in.”

Other meanings

To allow to be or do without interference; to not disturb or meddle with; to leave alone.
“Let me be!”
To allow the release of (a fluid).
“The physicians let about a pint of his blood, but to no avail.”

Example sentences

“Follow your own path and let people talk.”
Tatoeba · shekitten · CC0
“Let the chips fall where they may!”
Tatoeba · AmarMecheri · CC0
“We're going to have to let you go.”
Tatoeba · ddnktr · CC0

Word history

From Old English "lǣtan" (to allow, let go, bequeath, leave, rent).

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “let” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.