letting go

Verb

let go (third-person singular simple present lets go, present participle letting go, simple past and past participle let go)

1. (intransitive, transitive, with-of) To release from one's grasp; to go from a state of holding on to a state of no longer holding on.
   • You're hurting him! Let him go!

   Synonyms:

   release, unhand, leggo, relinquish

2. To emotionally disengage or distract oneself from a situation.
   • You are supported, so you can just let go and relax. Inhale and slowly exhale.2010, Gary Haymes, Go Beyond Stress
3. (euphemistic) To dismiss from employment.
   • The secretary didn't work out, so her boss told her she was being let go.

   Synonyms:

   decruit, dehire, unhire, lay off, fire, axe, can, discard, remove, discharge

4. (transitive) To ignore (a comment, etc.).
   • Cora gave her shoulders a rebellious toss. "I'm sick of always getting oysters; I'd sooner come out with you." Bradly let that go. "You had enough money this week without getting oysters, didn't you?"1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 135
5. (euphemistic, transitive) To fail to maintain a standard of appearance, behavior, or performance.
   1. (euphemistic, transitive, usually reflexively) To gain weight.
      • Wow, dude! You've really let yourself go this time!

See all 7 meanings of let go