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⇱ left alone - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
leave1 /liv/USA pronunciation   v., left/lɛft/USA pronunciation  leav•ing. 
  1. to go out of or away from, as a place: [~ + object]to leave the house.[no object]We left for the airport.
  2. to quit:[~ + object]to leave a job.
  3. to let remain behind:[~ + object]The bear left tracks in the snow.
  4. to let stay or be in the condition stated:[~ + object]Leave the motor running.
  5. to let remain in a position to do something without being bothered:[~ + object]We left him to his work.
  6. to let (a thing) remain for another's action or decision:[~ + object]We left the details to the lawyer.
  7. to give in charge;
    entrust:[~ + object]Leave the package with my neighbor.
  8. to turn aside from;
    abandon or disregard:[~ + object]She left music to study engineering.
  9. to give for use after one's death or departure: [~ + object + to + object]to leave one's money to charity.[~ + object + object]She left him a lot of money.
  10. to have remaining after death:[~ + object]He leaves a wife and three children.
  11. to have as a remainder after subtraction:[not: be + ~-ing;~ + object]2 from 4 leaves 2.
  12. leave off:
    • [no object] to stop;
      cease;
      discontinue:The professor couldn't remember where she had left off from the previous lecture.
    • to omit: [~ + object + off]We left him off the list.[~ + off + object]We left off too many of her relatives from the list.
  13. leave out, to omit;
    exclude: [~ + out + object]She left out a few important statistics.[~ + object + out]You left them out of your report.
leav•er, n. [countable]

leave2 /liv/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. permission to do something:[uncountable]to beg leave to go.
  2. permission to be absent, as from work or military duty: [uncountable]to ask for leave.[countable]allowed us a leave to visit home during Christmas.
  3. the time this permission lasts:[countable]30 days' leave.
Idioms
  1. Idioms take leave of, [~ + object] to part or separate from:Have you taken leave of your senses? (= Are you crazy?)
  2. Idioms take one's leave, to depart:We should take our leave before the speeches begin.


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
let1 /lɛt/USA pronunciation   v., let, let•ting, n. 
v. 
  1. to allow or permit: [~ + object + root form of verb]Don't let her see our faces.[~ + object]Can you come out? No, my parents won't let me.
  2. to allow to pass, go, or come:[~ + object]He let us into the house.
  3. to cause to;
    make:[~ + object + root form of verb]to let her know the truth.
  4. [~ + object + root form of verb] This word is used in the command forms Let or Let us (or Let's, which is short for Let us):
    • to make a request:Let's try to get along, please.
    • to give a command:Let me see what's in your hand.
    • to express a warning about someone else doing something:If they think they can just take over, just let them try.
    • to make a suggestion:Why not let her drive?
    • to express one's indifference to some situation;
      to show that one does not care about something:If she wants to gamble, let her do it.
  5. to grant the use of for rent or hire:[~ + object]to let rooms.
  6. to allow to be leased:[no object]an apartment to let.

v. 
  1. Aeronautics let down:
    • to disappoint or betray: [~ + object + down]She really let me down when she didn't come to our party.[~ + down + object]He let down the whole team.
    • [~ + object + down] to lower:He let the car down off the lift.
    • to make (a garment) longer: [~ + down + object]Can you let down this dress a few inches?[~ + object + down]He let the dress down a few inches.
  2. let in, to admit: [~ + in + object]This place lets in all kinds of people.[~ + object + in]Let me in.
  3. let in on, [~ + object + in + on + object] to allow to share in:I'll let you in on a secret.
  4. let off:
    • to release like an explosion: [~ + off + object]to let off steam.[~ + object + off]to let steam off.
    • to excuse from work or responsibility: [~ + object + off]The boss let us off early.[~ + off + object]The boss let off his workers early.
    • to release with little or no punishment: [~ + object + off]The judge let him off with probation.[~ + off + object]That judge lets off too many criminals.
  5. let on:
    • to reveal: [~ + on + (that) clause]He didn't let on that he knew about the party.[no object]She knew where they were going, but she never let on.[~ + on + about + object]She never let on about it.
    • [~ + on + (that) clause] to pretend:He tried to let on that he didn't care.
  6. let out:
    • [~ + out + object] to make known;
      express:He let out a doubt.
    • to release from confinement, restraint, etc.: [~ + object + out]to let air out of a tire.
    • to alter (a garment) so as to make larger or looser: [~ + out + object]to let out a dress a few inches.[~ + object + out]to let a dress out a few inches.
    • [no object] to be finished or dismissed:School lets out in May.
  7. let up, [no object]
    • to grow less powerful;
      lessen;
      abate;
      diminish:The hurricane let up gradually.
    • to cease;
      stop:At last, the rain is letting up.
  8. let up on, [~ + up on + object] to become more lenient with;
    to treat less strictly:Let up on her; she's just a child.

n. [countable* usually singular]
  1. British Termsa housing rental.
Idioms
  1. Idioms let be, [~ + object + be] to refrain from interfering with or bothering:Those boys wouldn't let him be, with their constant teasing.

  • let go:
    • [~ + object + go] to allow to escape:She let the fish go because it was too small to keep.
    • to stop holding on to: [~ + go + of + object]let go of the rope and fell.
    • [no object]Hold on, don't let go.
  • let oneself in for, [~ + object + in + for] to allow oneself to become involved in:He didn't know what he was letting himself in for when he started the new job.
  • Idioms, Informal Terms let (someone) have it, [~ + object + have it][Informal.]to attack;
    assault.

    • let2 /lɛt/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
    1. Sport(in tennis, badminton, etc.) any shot or action that must be replayed, esp. an otherwise valid serve that has hit the top of the net.

    -let, suffix. 
      • -let is attached to a noun to form a noun that is a smaller version of the original noun or root:book + -let → booklet (= a smaller book);pig + -let → piglet (= a smaller pig).
      • -let is also attached to a noun to form a noun that is a band, ornament, or article of clothing worn on the part of the body mentioned:ankle + -let → anklet (= piece of clothing like a sock worn on the ankle);wrist + -let → wristlet (= ornament like a bracelet worn on the wrist).

    WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
    leave1  (lēv),USA pronunciation v., left, leav•ing. 
    v.t. 
    1. to go out of or away from, as a place:to leave the house.
    2. to depart from permanently;
      quit:to leave a job.
    3. to let remain or have remaining behind after going, disappearing, ceasing, etc.:I left my wallet home. The wound left a scar.
    4. to allow to remain in the same place, condition, etc.:Is there any coffee left?
    5. to let stay or be as specified:to leave a door unlocked.
    6. to let (a person or animal) remain in a position to do something without interference:We left him to his work.
    7. to let (a thing) remain for action or decision:We left the details to the lawyer.
    8. to give in charge;
      deposit;
      entrust:Leave the package with the receptionist. I left my name and phone number.
    9. to stop;
      cease;
      give up:He left music to study law.
    10. to disregard;
      neglect:We will leave this for the moment and concentrate on the major problem.
    11. to give for use after one's death or departure:to leave all one's money to charity.
    12. to have remaining after death:He leaves a wife and three children.
    13. to have as a remainder after subtraction:2 from 4 leaves 2.
    14. Slang Terms[Nonstandard.]let1 (defs. 1, 2, 6).

    v.i. 
    1. to go away, depart, or set out:We leave for Europe tomorrow.
    2. leave alone. See alone (def. 4).
    3. leave off:
      • to desist from;
        cease;
        stop;
        abandon.
      • to stop using or wearing:It had stopped raining, so we left off our coats.
      • to omit:to leave a name off a list.
    4. leave out, to omit;
      exclude:She left out an important detail in her account.
    • bef. 900; Middle English leven, Old English lǣfan (causative formation from base of lāf remainder; see lave2); cognate with Old High German leiban (compare German bleiben to remain), Old Norse leifa, Gothic -laibjan
    leav′er, n. 
      1. 2. abandon, forsake, desert; relinquish. 9. forbear, renounce. 10. ignore, forget. 11. bequeath, will; devise, transmit.
      1. 2. join.
      Leave is interchangeable with let when followed by alone with the sense "to refrain from annoying or interfering with'':Leave (or Let) her alone and she will solve the problem easily.When he was left (or let) alone without interruptions, the boy quickly assembled the apparatus. The use of leave alone for let alone in the sense "not to mention'' is nonstandard:There wasn't any standing room, let (not leave) alone a seat, so I missed the performance.Other substitutions of leave for let are generally regarded as nonstandard:Let (not Leave) us sit down and talk this over.Let (not Leave) her do it her own way.The police wouldn't let (not leave) us cross the barriers. See also let1. 
    leave2  (lēv),USA pronunciation n. 
    1. permission to do something:to beg leave to go elsewhere.
    2. permission to be absent, as from work or military duty:The firm offers a maternity leave as part of its benefit program.
    3. the time this permission lasts:30 days' leave.
    4. a parting;
      departure;
      farewell:He took his leave before the formal ceremonies began. We took leave of them after dinner.
    5. Metallurgydraft (def. 23).
    6. [Bowling.]the pin or pins in upright position after the bowl of the first ball.
    • bef. 900; Middle English leve, Old English lēaf; akin to believe, furlough, lief
      1. –3. liberty. 2. 3. vacation, furlough.
    leave3  (lēv),USA pronunciation v.i., leaved, leav•ing. 
    1. Botanyto put forth leaves;
      leaf.
    • Middle English leven, derivative of lef leaf 1250–1300

    WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
    let1  (let),USA pronunciation v., let, let•ting, n. 
    v.t. 
    1. to allow or permit:to let him escape.
    2. to allow to pass, go, or come:to let us through.
    3. to grant the occupancy or use of (land, buildings, rooms, space, etc., or movable property) for rent or hire (sometimes fol. by out).
    4. to contract or assign for performance, usually under a contract:to let work to a carpenter.
    5. to cause to;
      make:to let one know the truth.
    6. (used in the imperative as an auxiliary expressive of a request, command, warning, suggestion, etc.):Let me see. Let us go. Just let them try it!

    v.i. 
    1. to admit of being rented or leased:The apartment lets for $100 per week.
    2. let alone. See alone (def. 5).
    3. Idioms let be:
      • to refrain from interference.
      • to refrain from interfering with.
    4. Aeronautics let down:
      • to disappoint;
        fail.
      • to betray;
        desert.
      • to slacken;
        abate:We were too near success to let down in our efforts.
      • to allow to descend slowly;
        lower.
      • Aeronautics(of an airplane) to descend from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or a similar maneuver.
    5. Idioms let go. See go (def. 82).
    6. let in:
      • to admit.
      • to involve (a person) in without his or her knowledge or permission:to let someone in for a loss.
      • Also, let into. to insert into the surface of (a wall or the like) as a permanent addition:to let a plaque into a wall.
      • Also, let in on. to share a secret with;
        permit to participate in.
    7. let off:
      • to release by exploding.
      • to free from duty or responsibility;
        excuse.
      • to allow to go with little or no punishment;
        pardon:The judge let off the youthful offender with a reprimand.
    8. let on:
      • to reveal one's true feelings:She was terrified at the prospect, but didn't let on.
      • to pretend:They let on that they didn't care about not being invited, but I could tell that they were hurt.
    9. let out:
      • to divulge;
        make known.
      • to release from confinement, restraint, etc.
      • to enlarge (a garment).
      • to terminate;
        be finished;
        end:When does the university let out for the summer?
      • to make (a let-out fur or pelt).
    10. let someone have it, [Informal.]to attack or assault, as by striking, shooting, or rebuking:The gunman threatened to let the teller have it if he didn't move fast.
    11. let up:
      • to slacken;
        diminish;
        abate:This heat wave should let up by the end of the week.
      • to cease;
        stop:The rain let up for a few hours.
    12. let up on, to treat less severely;
      be more lenient with:He refused to let up on the boy until his grades improved.

    n. 
    1. British Termsa lease.
    • bef. 900; Middle English leten, Old English lǣtan; cognate with Dutch laten, German lassen, Old Norse lāta, Gothic lētan; akin to Greek lēdeîn to be weary, Latin lassus tired. See late
      1. See allow. 1. suffer, grant. 3. lease, rent, sublet, hire.
      1. prevent.
      Let us is used in all varieties of speech and writing to introduce a suggestion or a request:Let us consider all the facts before deciding.The contracted form let's occurs mostly in informal speech and writing:Let's go.Let's not think about that right now.Perhaps because let's has come to be felt as a word in its own right rather than as the contraction of let us, it is often followed in informal speech and writing by redundant or appositional pronouns:Let's us plan a picnic.Let's you and I (or me) get together tomorrow. Both Let's you and me and Let's you and I occur in the relaxed speech of educated speakers. The former conforms to the traditional rules of grammar; the latter, nonetheless, occurs more frequently. See also leave1. 
    let2  (let),USA pronunciation n., v., let•ted or let, let•ting. 
    n. 
    1. Sport(in tennis, badminton, etc.) any play that is voided and must be replayed, esp. a service that hits the net and drops into the proper part of the opponent's court.
    2. Law[Chiefly Law.]an impediment or obstacle:to act without let or hindrance.

    v.t. 
    1. [Archaic.]to hinder, prevent, or obstruct.
    • bef. 900; Middle English letten (verb, verbal), lette (noun, nominal; derivative of the verb, verbal), Old English lettan (verb, verbal), derivative of læt slow, tardy, late; cognate with Old Norse letja to hinder

    -let, 
    1. a diminutive suffix attached to nouns (booklet;
      piglet;
      ringlet      ), and, by extraction from bracelet, a suffix denoting a band, piece of jewelry, or article of clothing worn on the part of the body specified by the noun (anklet;
      wristlet      ).
    • Latin -ellus diminutive suffix; compare -elle, chaplet) + -et -et
    • Latin -āle, neuter of -ālis -al1 (compare bracelet) or
    • Middle French -elet, equivalent. to -el (
    • Middle English -let, -lette

    Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
    let /lɛt/ vb (lets, letting, let) (transitive; usually takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
    1. to permit; allow: she lets him roam around
    2. (imperative or dependent imperative)
      • used as an auxiliary to express a request, proposal, or command, or to convey a warning or threat: let's get on, just let me catch you here again!
      • (in mathematical or philosophical discourse) used as an auxiliary to express an assumption or hypothesis: let "a" equal "b"
      • used as an auxiliary to express resigned acceptance of the inevitable: let the worst happen
      • to allow the occupation of (accommodation) in return for rent
      • to assign (a contract for work)
    4. to allow or cause the movement of (something) in a specified direction: to let air out of a tyre
    5. Irish informal to utter: to let a cry
    6. let alone ⇒
      • (conjunction) much less; not to mention: I can't afford wine, let alone champagne
      • let be, leave alone, leave be ⇒ to refrain from annoying or interfering with: let the poor cat alone
    7. let go ⇒
    8. let loose ⇒
      • to set free
      • informal to make (a sound or remark) suddenly: he let loose a hollow laugh
      • informal to discharge (rounds) from a gun or guns: they let loose a couple of rounds of ammunition
     n
    1. Brit the act of letting property or accommodation: the majority of new lets are covered by the rent regulations
    Etymology: Old English lǣtan to permit; related to Gothic lētan, German lassen
    let /lɛt/ n
    1. an impediment or obstruction (esp in the phrase without let or hindrance)
      • a minor infringement or obstruction of the ball, requiring a point to be replayed
      • the point so replayed
     vb (lets, letting, letted, let)
    1. (transitive) archaic to hinder; impede
    Etymology: Old English lettan to hinder, from læt late; related to Old Norse letja
    'left alone' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

    🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "left alone" in the title:

    A gentleman cannot be left alone for too long
    be left all alone
    Ever since you left me, I've been feeling all alone.
    He left her to die alone.
    How do you describe: noodle puffed from being left alone for a while.
    I am telling you if pet dogs are left alone for a long time they will feel lonely in the same way th
    If the Hound would only have left her alone,
    left alone
    left alone from
    Left alone this layer of tissue?
    Make sure you left us alone
    the batting will be left alone
    They left me in peace/ They left me alone.
    want <to be left> alone [change passive to active]
    was left alone a little
    Was left post alone ....... Imperial seat to give audience
    will not be left alone in the face of
    Would you rather I left you alone

    Look up "left alone" at Merriam-Webster
    Look up "left alone" at dictionary.com
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