Phrase guide

let off

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To cause to explode or come out; to release.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Stand back when you let off fireworks.
  • to let off a fart

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: detonate, let out, set off, touch off

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To forgive and not punish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • The boss let me off for breaking the office window, when in theory she could have fined me about 30 dollars.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: excuse, pardon

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Synonym of leave off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: leave off

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To ease off.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You let off the throttle while you're shifting, then you resume once you've caught the next gear.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: let up

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

grant exemption or release to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Please excuse me from this class

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: excuse, relieve, exempt

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: absolve, justify, free

Narrower terms: frank

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: powodować wybuch — to cause to explode or come out; to release.
  • Polish: spowodować wybuch — to cause to explode or come out; to release.
  • Polish: puszczać wolno — to forgive and not punish
  • Polish: puścić wolno — to forgive and not punish
  • Esperanto: ĉesi — to leave off
  • German: aufhören — to leave off
  • Māori: kātirawhe — to leave off
  • Māori: waiho atu — to leave off
  • Old English: āteorian — to leave off
  • Polish: przestawać — to leave off
  • Polish: przestać — to leave off
  • Polish: cichnąć — to leave off
  • Polish: ucichnąć — to leave off
  • Polish: słabnąć — to leave off
  • Polish: osłabnąć — to leave off
  • Polish: ustępować — to leave off
  • Polish: ustąpić — to leave off