to let go

Examples

• All

• You have to let me go.

  Alien: Romulus (2024)

• The first phase is letting go of one's self and one's situation.

  Academic text (2007)

• So my process to you is to let go and just let this be.

• I gotta learn to let go of a lot of things.

  Fast Charlie (2023)

• It's about just letting go and just doing fun things.

• I felt this need to let go of what I'd just been through.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The third quality of spiritual maturity is our ability to let go and start afresh.

  Academic text (1993)

• To move forward in life, you need to let go of your fears and insecurities.

• After her breakup, she found it hard to let go of the memories they shared.

• He learned to let go of his anger, which improved his relationships with others.

Synonyms

R

to release

vsto let go

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

focuses more on inner relaxation and losing emotional hold rather than freeing physically

L

to let go of

vsto let go

391 1.9

To stop holding something so it is not in your hand

is emotional or mental, meaning to relax or drop attachment rather than literal release

W

to withdraw

vsto let go

311 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is inward, focusing on ceasing worry or emotional ties rather than leaving places

P

to put aside

vsto let go

151 3.4

To stop thinking about something for a short time

is deeper, meaning to relax emotionally or drop attachment entirely

S

to shake off

vsto let go

80 3.6

Make something unwanted go away, like an illness, a feeling, or a person following you

focuses more on calming down and losing emotional hold gradually

U

to unwind

vsto let go

43 3.4

Become relaxed and less tense after work or a stressful time

also includes stopping emotional attachment, not just physical relaxation

W

to wean

vsto let go

25 5.9

Gradually make someone stop depending on something they are attached to

is more immediate, meaning to relax or stop worrying sooner

L

to let loose

vsto let go

• Informal

24 3.9

Relax and enjoy yourself without worrying

is about personal calm and losing worry rather than freeing external control

D

to disassociate

vsto let go

15 7.0

To end a connection with a person, group, or idea

is more about personal relaxation or letting feelings go rather than formal exit

D

to dissociate

vsto let go

5 6.7

To stop being involved with a person, group, or idea

is gentler, meaning to loosen worry or attachment rather than cut ties

P

to put away

vsto let go

3 3.4

To stop thinking about a worry or feeling

goes further, implying true emotional release or reduced attachment

K

to kick loose

vsto let go

• Informal

1 8.1

To free yourself from a promise or duty that controls your life

is gentler, meaning to relax emotionally or stop worrying rather than escape duties

U

to unfeel

vsto let go

1 9.9

To try to remove an emotion from yourself, for example anger or sadness

is milder, meaning to relax and let worries fade rather than suppress feeling

U

to untether

vsto let go

1 6.2

To free someone or something from limits so they can act more freely

is narrower, centring on stopping worry and emotional loosening specifically

U

to ungrip

vsto let go

1 7.5

To let go of a strong feeling or control that holds you back

is broader, meaning to stop worry or relax beyond just influence removal

U

to unattach

vsto let go

1 7.5

To stop feeling close to someone or something

is similar but often less formal and more about easing worry

Antonyms

W

to worry

∞ 1.0

To feel nervous or afraid about possible problems

C

to cling

230 2.1

To hold on tightly to someone or something and not let go

How Relaxed

to let it all hang out

• Informal

8 8.2

to let go

655 3.7

to relax

∞ 1.0

to calm down

• Informal

989 1.4

tense

247 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology