let him free

USAGE SUMMARY

'Let him free' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of releasing someone from a physical or mental confinement. For example, "After years of unjust imprisonment, the court finally decided to let him free."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

What message are we sending if we let him free?

The New York Times

Let him free all who have been imprisoned, banished or exiled for their opposition to apartheid.

Independent

Nonetheless, Mr. Parsons has made a career of smoothing over political and personal differences, and some executives at AOL Time Warner see it in the company's interest to keep even a disgruntled Mr. Turner on their side -- rather than let him free to start a new enterprise that might someday compete against them.

The New York Times

But then Sister Mary Eunice had to let him free.

Huffington Post

You may also walk up to the lassoed victim and hogtie him by pressing Triangle or if he's already tied up you can press the circle button to let him free.

WikiHow

I let him free, and when he walked from the room, I wanted to spit on the floor where he had stood.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Some dogs work out on treadmills, but Combs said, "I just let him loose, let him run free".

The New York Times - Sports

Let him feel free to be himself around you.

WikiHow

Bus drivers let him ride free if he sang.

The New York Times - Arts

"I wasn't going to let him have free rein".

The New York Times - Sports

So the Lampsacenians, being greatly afraid of Croesus, released Miltiades, and let him go free.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "let him free", ensure the context clearly indicates who is granting the freedom and from what confinement (physical, legal, or metaphorical).

Common error

Avoid using "let him free" when the intended meaning is simply to allow someone to do something without a connotation of release from confinement; use "let him do it" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "let him free" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "let" is the main verb expressing permission, "him" is the direct object, and "free" acts as an adjective describing the state of the object. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "let him free" is grammatically correct and serves to convey permission for someone's release. While not extremely common, it appears in varied contexts, predominantly in news and media sources. Ludwig AI validates the proper usage of this phrase. Alternative expressions like "release him" or "set him at liberty" offer similar semantic value depending on the specific nuance you aim to achieve. When using "let him free", clarify the context to specify who is granting the freedom and from what they are being freed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

release him

Focuses directly on the act of setting someone free, without the nuance of permission.

set him at liberty

More formal and emphasizes the state of being free.

allow him to go

Highlights the act of permitting departure.

permit his release

Formal and passive construction, emphasizing permission for release.

grant him freedom

Emphasizes the granting of a state of freedom.

free him from captivity

Specifies that the person is being freed from a state of being captured.

liberate him

More forceful and implies freeing someone from oppression or control.

discharge him

Often used in legal contexts to denote release from custody or obligation.

exonerate him

To clear someone of blame or wrongdoing, leading to their release.

absolve him

To forgive someone of their sins and as a result consider him free.

FAQs

How to use "let him free" in a sentence?

Use "let him free" when you want to convey the idea of allowing someone to be released from some form of captivity or restriction. For example: "After reviewing the evidence, the judge decided to let him free".

What can I say instead of "let him free"?

You can use alternatives like "release him", "set him at liberty", or "allow him to go" depending on the context.

Is "let him free" grammatically correct?

Yes, "let him free" is grammatically correct. It follows the structure of "let" + object + verb, where "let" functions as a verb meaning to allow or permit, "him" is the object pronoun, and "free" is an adjective describing the state the object is allowed to be in.

What's the difference between "let him free" and "set him free"?

"Let him free" implies permission or allowance for someone to become free, whereas "set him free" implies the action of actively freeing someone. "Let him free" suggests someone else has the authority to keep the person confined, while "set him free" implies the speaker has the authority or ability to free the person.