What are the definitions of “let out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Allow to leave or go out.
The convict was LET OUT of prison after serving five years of an eight - year sentence.
- 2Make a sound.
He LET OUT a huge sigh of relief when he heard the results.
- 3Make clothes bigger.
I've put on so much weight that I'm going to have to LET my suits OUT.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “let out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb let out is to allow someone or something to leave or go out. For example, it can mean releasing a pet from its cage, allowing a person to leave a room, or opening a door for someone to exit.
What are the different verb forms of “let out”?
| Root Verb | let out |
| Third Person Singular Present | lets out |
| Present Participle | letting out |
| Simple Past | let out |
| Past Participle | let out |
Example
Please let out the dog; he needs to go for a walk.
Example
She lets out the cat every morning.
Example
He is letting out the students after the class is over.
Example
Yesterday, they let out the birds from their cage.
Example
The door was let out for the guests to leave.
What kind of phrasal verb is “let out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“let out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She let out a sigh of relief.
Example
He let the dog out to play in the yard.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“let out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She let out a sigh of relief.
Example
He let the dog out to play in the yard.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “let out”?
Good things to know
Does “let out” have an informal or formal tone?
Let out is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
