[go: up one dir, main page]

let alone

1 of 2

conjunction

Synonyms of let alonenext
: to say nothing of : not to mention
used especially to emphasize the improbability of a contrasting example
… he would never walk again, let alone play golf.Sports Illus.
how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a PresidentRobert Lacville

let alone

2 of 2

phrase

: to leave undisturbed
let the flowers alone
also : to leave to oneself
wanted to be let alone

Synonyms of let alone

Examples of let alone in a Sentence

Conjunction I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Conjunction
The four-team Playoff era wouldn’t have included teams ranked as low as Indiana’s first two opponents — let alone its national title opponent Miami — but the top seed’s dominance thus far has been astounding. The Athletic College Football, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026 Both sides of the river were identical—banks of dense forest with no sign of habitation, let alone border control. Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026 But at the moment, nobody knows what the political situation will be in Venezuela a week from today, let alone in a year or a decade. Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026 During that time, she was transferred five times between facilities, separated from family, denied access to counsel, and confined in conditions that were deeply troubling and inappropriate for any person, let alone a United States citizen. Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for let alone

Word History

First Known Use

Conjunction

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of let alone was in 1765

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

let alone

conjunction
: to say nothing of : not to mention
lacked the courage, let alone the know-how
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!