letting out

Meanings

1. 1phrase

   The act of allowing someone or something to leave a place.

   Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: the letting out of the prisoners.

   Patterns

   • the letting out of someone/something

   The letting out of the animals happens every morning at the farm.

   She was responsible for the letting out of the students at the end of the day.

2. 2phrase

   The act of making a sound or expressing an emotion, often suddenly.

   Grammar: Often followed by 'of': a letting out of a sigh.

   Patterns

   • letting out a scream
   • letting out a sigh

   The letting out of a loud cheer surprised everyone.

   His letting out of a deep breath showed he was relieved.

3. 3phrase

   The act of making clothing wider or looser.

   Grammar: Used with 'of': the letting out of the waistband.

   Patterns

   • letting out a dress
   • letting out the seams

   The letting out of the waistband made the pants comfortable.

   She took the skirt to a tailor for letting out.

Common combinations

letting out a sigh

Letting out a sigh, she closed the book.

letting out a scream

The child woke the house by letting out a scream.

letting out a room

They make extra money by letting out a room to students.

Synonyms and how they differ

releasing

Similar but more formal and often used for official releases; 'letting out' is more everyday.

emitting

Used for sounds, light, or gas; 'letting out' is more general and can be intentional.

Opposites

Word family

let out phrasal verb

To allow to leave, make a sound, or make clothing wider.

Commonly confused: letting out or letting?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “letting out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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