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 golfSports Illus.
how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a PresidentRobert 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
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.
The military and the civil service are unlikely to take any provocative action that would trigger, let alone justify, such a purge. Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024 Most agree that a transition away from fossil fuels is a good and needed thing, but very few who study the issue closely believe it can be done quickly, or without massive dislocation and collateral impacts, some or many of which cannot really be predicted, let alone dealt with, in advance. Daniel Markind, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Across eleven offerings, a swirl of photographs mined from the internet and transferred onto wood panels, Norsworthy offers the kind of narratives most movies refuse to consider, let alone imagine. Essence, 5 Nov. 2024 Bowers actually led the NFL in receptions through the first eight weeks of the season, which is a remarkable feat for any tight end, let alone a rookie. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for let alone 

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

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

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 24 Nov. 2024.

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
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