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Let out meaning

Let out means to allow someone or something to leave a place. It can also mean to make a sound, like a scream, laugh or sigh.

Check yourself: 3 questions

let somebody or something out

let out · let · letting

B2Separable+2 more meanings

Can you let the dog out? He needs a walk.

Let out meanings and examples

3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.

  1. 1allow someone or something to leave a place
  2. 2make a sound, like a scream, laugh or sigh
  3. 3finish so people can leave, used for schools and shows
  1. 1

    Allow someone or something to leave a place

    let somebody or something out

    B2Separable

    • Can you let the dog out? He needs a walk.
    • The teacher let us out early on Friday.
    • Who let out all the air from the pool?
  2. 2

    Make a sound, like a scream, laugh or sigh

    let out something

    C1Not separable

    • She let out a scream when she saw the mouse.
    • He let out a long sigh and sat down.
    • The baby let out a little laugh.
  3. 3

    Finish so people can leave, used for schools and shows

    let out

    B2No object

    • School lets out at three.
    • What time does the concert let out?
    • The movie let out late, so we took a taxi.
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Is let out separable?

Let out is separable when it has an object: let out the cat or let the cat out. With a pronoun, it goes in the middle: let it out. For sounds, the sound comes after: let out a cry.

The school meaning is US English; UK English says school finishes. Let it all out means let yourself cry or show strong feelings.

Verb tenses for let out

PresentI let out · she lets out
Pastlet out
Present perfecthave let out
-ing formletting out

Common mistakes with let out

What learners often say, and what to say instead.

  • Wrong: The cat’s at the door. Let out it.

    Right: The cat’s at the door. Let it out.

    A pronoun goes between let and out.

  • Wrong: He let a scream out.

    Right: He let out a scream.

    With a sound, put the sound after out.

  • Wrong: They let out him of prison last week.

    Right: They let him out of prison last week.

    The person goes in the middle and the place takes of.

Synonyms and opposites of let out

Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.

Similar

  • releaseformal, let someone go free
  • let gostop holding someone or something
  • let sliptell a secret by accident

Opposite

Let out quiz

Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.

  1. 1Open the window to ___ the smoke.

  2. 2Choose the right sentence.

  3. 3In the US: “Class lets out at noon.” What happens at noon?

More phrasal verbs with let

3 phrasal verbs start with let. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.

Test yourself on letTake the full test

Let out FAQ

Questions people ask about let out.

What does let it all out mean?

It means show your feelings, especially cry, instead of keeping them inside: It’s OK, let it all out.

What does let the cat out of the bag mean?

It means tell a secret by mistake: I let the cat out of the bag about the party.

What is the difference between let out and let off?

Let out means allow to leave. Let someone off means not punish them: The police let him off with a warning.

Use let out in real conversations

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