let out

3 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 allow someone or something to leave a place B1
  2. 2 tell a secret or share information you should keep private B2
  3. 3 make a sound, cry, or sigh B1
1 let sb/sth out

allow someone or something to leave a place

B1

What does "let out" mean in this sense?

To let someone or something out means to allow them to leave a place, usually by opening a door, gate, or other barrier. It is most often used when a person or animal is inside an enclosed space — like a room, a building, a cage, or a car — and someone gives them permission or the opportunity to leave. This phrasal verb is very common in everyday spoken English and feels natural and direct. It can describe small everyday actions, like letting the dog into the garden, or more serious situations, like releasing someone from prison or custody. The key idea is always that something or someone moves from inside to outside because another person makes it possible.

Examples

How to use it

let + object + out

The most common pattern, used when the object is a short noun phrase like 'the dog' or 'the children'.

Could you let the dog out before you leave?

let + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'let' and 'out' — it cannot follow 'out'.

The door was stuck and he couldn't let them out.

let + object + out + of + place

Use 'out of' to specify the exact place the person or thing is being released from.

The guard let the visitors out of the building at five o'clock.

subject + be + let out

The passive form is natural and common, especially when talking about people being released from prison or custody.

She was let out of hospital after just two days.

let + object + out + early / on bail

Adverbs or short phrases like 'early' or 'on bail' can follow 'out' to add detail about the release.

He was let out early because of good behaviour.

Common Collocations

let the dog outlet the cat outlet someone out of prisonlet someone out of a roomlet the children outlet someone out on bail

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'let' and 'out'. Putting the pronoun after 'out' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ Can you let out her?
✓ Can you let her out?
Confusing the senses of 'let out'

'Let out' has several meanings in English. When it means 'allow to leave', the object is always a person, animal, or thing being released from a place. If you see a sound noun like 'scream' or 'laugh' as the object, it is a completely different meaning.

✗ He let out the dog a big bark. (mixing up senses)
✓ He let the dog out into the garden.
Using 'let out' without an object

In this sense, 'let out' always needs an object — the person or thing being released. You cannot use it on its own without saying who or what is being let out.

✗ She opened the cage and let out.
✓ She opened the cage and let the birds out.

Usage

'Let out' is neutral and natural in everyday speech. It has several different meanings in English (making a sound, loosening clothing, renting a property), so pay attention to the object to understand which sense is meant.

2 let sth out

tell a secret or share information you should keep private

B2

Sense 2: What does "let sth out" mean?

To 'let out' a secret or piece of information means to reveal something that was supposed to stay private — allowing it to reach people who were not meant to know. This might happen accidentally, carelessly, or even on purpose. The phrase carries a built-in sense that the information was confidential, so there is always an implication of a boundary being crossed. It is commonly used in everyday conversation and journalism, and works naturally in both spoken and written English. The key idea is that the information 'escapes' into wider circulation, whether or not the person intended it to.

Examples

How to use it

let out + secret/news/truth/details

The most common pattern, used when the object is a short noun phrase representing the private information being revealed.

She accidentally let out the news about the promotion before the official announcement.

let + pronoun + out

When the object is a pronoun, it must always go between 'let' and 'out' — it cannot follow 'out'.

He nearly let it out during dinner, but managed to stop himself just in time.

let out + what/that-clause

Used when the content of the secret is spelled out in more detail with a clause, which follows 'out' rather than sitting between the two parts.

Someone let out what the company was planning before the press conference.

adverb + let + object + out

Adverbs like 'accidentally', 'carelessly', or 'deliberately' are often added to clarify how the information was revealed.

She carelessly let the details out during a phone call she forgot was on speaker.

be let out (passive)

The passive form is natural when the focus is on the information itself rather than who revealed it.

The results were let out hours before the official announcement, causing widespread confusion.

Common Collocations

let out a secretlet out the newslet out the truthlet it outlet out detailsaccidentally let out

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placed after 'out'

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'let' and 'out'. Placing the pronoun after 'out' is ungrammatical in this sense.

✗ She let out it before anyone could stop her.
✓ She let it out before anyone could stop her.
Confusing 'let out' with 'let on'

'Let on' means to hint or admit awareness of something, while 'let out' means to actually release a specific piece of information into wider circulation. They are not interchangeable.

✗ Don't let out that you already know about the surprise — just act normal.
✓ Don't let on that you already know about the surprise — just act normal.
Using 'let out' without an informational object

In this sense, 'let out' needs an object that refers to private information — a secret, news, truth, or details. Using it without any object, or with the wrong type of object, will suggest a different meaning entirely.

✗ Who let out? We need to find out who told everyone.
✓ Who let the secret out? We need to find out who told everyone.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. It always implies the information was supposed to be kept private, so use it in contexts involving secrets, surprises, or confidential news.

3 let sth out

make a sound, cry, or sigh

B1

Sense 3: What does "let sth out" mean?

To 'let out' a sound means to suddenly produce a noise — a scream, a laugh, a sigh, or a groan — usually without planning it. The sound escapes you in response to a feeling or surprise, which is why this phrasal verb feels more vivid and natural than simply saying 'she screamed' or 'he sighed'. It is used for both people and animals, and works well in storytelling and everyday conversation. You will almost always see it followed by 'a' and a sound noun, like 'a gasp' or 'a cry'. It is equally common in spoken English and in written stories or news reports.

Examples

How to use it

subject + let out + a + sound noun

This is the most common pattern — the object (a sound noun) follows 'out', completing the phrase naturally.

She let out a gasp when she opened the gift.

subject + let + a + sound noun + out

The object can also be placed between 'let' and 'out', especially with short sound nouns like 'a sigh' or 'a laugh'.

He let a long groan out and collapsed onto the sofa.

subject + let out + a + adjective + sound noun

An adjective before the sound noun adds detail about the quality or intensity of the sound.

The crowd let out a tremendous cheer when the final whistle blew.

subject + let out + a + sound noun + when/as + clause

A 'when' or 'as' clause is often added to explain what caused the sound.

She let out a shriek as the cold water hit her.

Common Collocations

a screama sigha laugha groana crya gasp

Common Mistakes

Missing article before the sound noun

You must use 'a' (or 'an') before the sound noun. Leaving out the article sounds unnatural and incorrect in English.

✗ He let out scream when he slipped on the ice.
✓ He let out a scream when he slipped on the ice.
Using 'the' instead of 'a'

Use 'a' with the sound noun unless you are referring back to a specific sound already mentioned. Saying 'let out the sigh' sounds strange in most contexts.

✗ She let out the sigh and looked away.
✓ She let out a sigh and looked away.
Confusing the sound sense with the release sense

When the object is a person or animal, 'let out' means to release, not to produce a sound. Only sound nouns like 'a scream' or 'a laugh' belong to this sense.

✗ She let out a laugh when the dog finally escaped. [intending to say the dog made a sound]
✓ Use 'let out' + a sound noun for sounds, and 'let out' + a person/animal for release: 'She let the dog out' vs 'She let out a laugh.'

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both speaking and writing. It is especially common in stories and narratives to describe sudden or emotional sounds, and sounds more natural and vivid than simply saying 'screamed' or 'sighed'.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'let out' always mean to allow someone to leave a place?

No — 'let out' has several different meanings in English. It can also mean to make a sound (like 'let out a scream') or, in British English, to rent a property. The easiest way to tell which meaning is being used is to look at the object: if it is a person, animal, or thing in an enclosed space, it means 'allow to leave'.

Can I use 'let out' in the passive?

Yes, the passive is very natural with this sense. It is especially common when talking about people being released from prison, hospital, or custody, for example: 'He was let out on bail.' It works well in both spoken and written English.

Is 'let out' the same as 'release'?

'Release' and 'let out' are very close in meaning, but 'release' sounds more formal and is more common in writing or official contexts. 'Let out' is the natural, everyday choice in conversation — for example, you would say 'let the dog out', not 'release the dog'.

Can I say 'I am letting out the cat' in the present continuous?

It sounds a little unnatural unless you are describing something happening step by step right now, like 'She is letting them out one by one.' For most situations, the simple present or simple past sounds more natural: 'I let the cat out every morning.'

What kinds of things can you 'let out'?

The most common objects are people and animals — the dog, the cat, a prisoner, the children. You can also let out things like air (for example, from a tyre). The key idea is always that something inside an enclosed space is being allowed to leave or escape.

Does 'let out' always mean the information was revealed by accident?

Not necessarily. 'Let out' can describe accidental, careless, or even deliberate disclosure — what matters is that the information was supposed to stay private. If you want to emphasise that something was revealed unintentionally, you can add an adverb like 'accidentally' or 'carelessly'.

Can 'let out' be used in the passive, like 'the secret was let out'?

Yes, the passive is quite natural here, especially when you want to focus on the information rather than the person who revealed it. For example: 'The details were let out before the company was ready to go public.'

Is 'let the cat out of the bag' related to this meaning of 'let out'?

Yes, this idiom covers exactly the same sense — revealing information that was meant to be kept secret. It is very commonly used in informal speech and writing, and is essentially a more colourful way of saying 'let out the secret'.

Does 'let out' have other meanings I might confuse with this one?

Yes, 'let out' has other senses — for example, releasing a person or animal from a place, or making a sound. The key to recognising this sense is the object: if it refers to information, news, a secret, or truth, you are dealing with the 'reveal' meaning. The other senses are handled separately on this platform.

Can I use 'let out' in the present continuous, like 'she is letting out the secret'?

It sounds a little unnatural in most contexts. The simple past, present perfect, and simple present work much more smoothly — for example, 'she let out the secret' or 'she has let out the secret'. Save the present continuous for real-time narration, such as describing something as it unfolds in a story.

Can 'let out' be used in the passive, like 'a sigh was let out'?

No — this construction sounds very unnatural. In English, we almost never use the passive with this sense. Always use an active structure, like 'She let out a sigh.'

Does 'let out' always mean producing a sound? I've seen it used in other ways.

No, 'let out' has a few different meanings. It can mean releasing someone or something (like 'let the dog out'), or making clothing bigger. This page covers only the sound-producing sense. You can tell which meaning is intended by looking at the object — a sound noun always signals this sense.

What kinds of sounds can I use with 'let out'?

This phrasal verb works with a wide range of vocal sounds made by people or animals, such as a scream, sigh, laugh, groan, gasp, shriek, yell, cry, or whimper. It does not work well with abstract nouns like 'emotion' or 'feeling'.

Can animals 'let out' sounds, or is it only for people?

Animals can 'let out' sounds too. For example, 'The dog let out a howl' or 'The cat let out a hiss' are both natural. The key is that the object is still a sound noun.

Is 'let out a sound' more natural than just using the verb, like 'screamed' or 'sighed'?

'Let out a scream' and 'screamed' are both correct, but 'let out' emphasises that the sound happened suddenly and spontaneously — it escaped the person. This makes it particularly vivid in stories and narratives, which is why writers often prefer it.

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