To allow someone to leave a room, building, or other place by opening a door or gate.
Can you let the dog out before you leave for work?
A: The meeting's over. Can someone let me out? B: Sure, I'll open the door for you.
At my old school, the teachers wouldn’t let us out of the classroom until the bell rang.
Common mistake
✗Please let out me, I'm trapped.
✓Please let me out, I'm trapped.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle — 'let me out'.
Tell it apart
Let the cat out, would you?
allow it to leave
Let me in — it's freezing.
allow entry
You use 'let out' when someone is inside and you allow them to go outside, often by opening something.'Let out' is about allowing someone to leave; 'let in' is the opposite—allowing someone to enter.
To suddenly make a loud or noticeable sound, such as a scream, sigh, or laugh.
She let out a sigh of relief when she heard the good news.
A: Did you hear that? B: Yeah, someone just let out a loud scream upstairs.
When I saw my exam results, I couldn’t help but let out a big laugh because I was so surprised.
Common mistake
✗He let out of a sigh.
✓He let out a sigh.
'Let out + a sound' directly — no 'of'.
Tell it apart
She let out a long sigh.
made the sound
They let the prisoners out.
allowed them to leave
Use 'let out' when someone suddenly makes a sound because of emotion, like surprise or relief.'Let out' focuses on the action of releasing a sound, not just making it.