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let alone
conjunction
: 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 President—Robert Lacville
Examples of let alone in a Sentence
I don't have enough money for a new car, let alone a luxury sedan.
Recent Examples on the Web
Federal authorities also lack sufficient resources to detect and track drones, let alone identify who is operating them.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Sharks rarely encounter humans in such high numbers, let alone under circumstances where conditions so overwhelmingly favor the predators.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
Kelce’s opening monologue gets graded on a curve That’s because the late-night host monologue in front of an audience is among the most challenging work in all of TV — let alone by someone with limited hosting experience.
—Dan Shanoff, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately, the Congress of the last few years has been characterized by a consistent inability to do the basics, let alone legislate much of anything at all.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1765, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near let alone
Cite this Entry
“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
let alone
conjunction
: to say nothing of : not to mention
lacked the courage, let alone the know-how
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