Let out means to allow someone to leave a place (a room, a building, a car) or to make a sound, such as a scream or a sigh. In the second meaning, people say let out a scream, a cry, a sigh or a laugh, and the sound usually escapes because of a strong feeling: fear, relief, joy.
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let + someone/something + out (of + place); let it/him/me out; let out a + scream/cry/sigh/laugh
- Could you let the dog out into the garden before you leave for work?
- The teacher let us out ten minutes early because of the heavy snow.
- When the plane finally landed, the passengers let out a sigh of relief.
What changed
First versionThe security guard wouldn't let us from the building until the alarm stopped.
RevisionThe security guard wouldn't let us out of the building until the alarm stopped.
From can seem logical, since the people want to leave the building. But in let out, the direction outside comes from out, and the place is added with of: let us out of the building. So from is replaced with out of.
Don't confuse it with let go, which is about opening your hands and releasing something you're holding: Let go of my arm! Let out means to release someone from an enclosed space, including a car: Could you let me out at the next corner?
Your turn
The cat is sitting by the back door, meowing to go into the garden. Could you ___, please?
Show the answer
let it out — The cat is in the house and wants to go into the garden, outside, so it needs to be let out: let it out. Let it in means to allow it inside, but it's already there.
Describe a moment when you or someone near you screamed, laughed or sighed because of a strong feeling. Name the sound and the reason.
When I opened the email and saw that I'd got the job, I let out a scream of joy.
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