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.
Meanwhile, none of the other eight teams that passed on Mahomes currently have a quarterback with a single MVP award or Super Bowl ring, let alone anything comparable to Mahomes' two MVPs and three championship rings. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Neither John Adams nor Thomas Jefferson saw Spanish Americans as part of the same community, let alone as equals. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025 Before embarking on that remarkable postseason journey, McDuffie got a hotel room with family instead of going to the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas because didn’t think he’d be selected in the first round — let alone by the Chiefs. Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 The squad was arguably weaker than the one that was promoted, let alone being weaker than the squad that was packed with internationals but relegated two years before. Rob Tanner, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Let alone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/let%20alone. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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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