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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
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
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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 24 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
let alone
conjunction
: to say nothing of : not to mention
lacked the courage, let alone the know-how
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