let out — make a sound (e.g. a scream, sigh)
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutraloccasional
To suddenly make a loud or noticeable sound, such as a scream, sigh, or laugh.
Say it like a native
Textbook She emitted a loud scream of surprise.
Native She let out a scream.
'Let out (a scream/sigh)' is the natural collocation. 'Emitted a scream' is clinical.
Pattern: let out + noun (a sound)
In use
- She let out a sigh of relief when she heard the good news.communication
- When I saw my exam results, I couldn’t help but let out a big laugh because I was so surprised.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ He let out of a sigh.
✓ He let out a sigh.
'Let out + a sound' directly — no 'of'.
Common collocations
let out + a— a scream, a sigh, a groan, a yell
Don't confuse it
'Let out' focuses on the action of releasing a sound, not just making it.
Related
- let out (allow someone to leave a place) — Another meaning of 'let out' is 'allow someone to leave a place'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.