Cool MateDismiss vs We're letting him go
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
We're letting him go
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Dismiss
| Dismiss | We're letting him go | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //wɪə ˈlɛtɪŋ hɪm ɡəʊ//🇺🇸 //wɪr ˈlɛtɪŋ hɪm ɡoʊ// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | We are allowing him to leave. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | We're letting him go to explore new opportunities. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | let go of someone, let him go gently, let go in peace |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | Confused with 'we let him go' which is a simpler past form., Misused in formal writing instead of a more formal phrase., Incorrectly assumed to always imply negative connotations. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | Commonly used in conversation. Can imply a resignation or end of a relationship. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs We're letting him go
What's the difference between Dismiss and We're letting him go?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. We're letting him go: We are allowing him to leave.
Which is more common: Dismiss and We're letting him go?
Dismiss is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. We're letting him go: We're letting him go to explore new opportunities.
Can I use Dismiss and We're letting him go interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and We're letting him go are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.