letdown

1 of 2

noun

let·​down ˈlet-ˌdau̇n 

1

a

: discouragement, disappointment

his latest novel is a letdown

b

: a slackening of effort : relaxation

2

: the descent of an aircraft or spacecraft to the point at which a landing approach is begun

3

: a physiological response of a lactating mammal to suckling and allied stimuli whereby previously secreted milk from the acini is expelled into ducts and drawn through the nipple

let down

2 of 2

verb

let down; letting down; lets down

transitive verb

1

: to allow to descend gradually

2

a

: to fail to support

felt her parents had let her down

b

: disappoint

the plot lets you down at the end

afraid of letting his father down

Synonyms

Noun

• disappointment
• dismay
• dissatisfaction
• frustration

Verb

• cheat
• disappoint
• dissatisfy
• fail

Examples of letdown in a Sentence

Noun

the museum exhibit was just so-so, and we returned home with a vague sense of letdown

the eagerly anticipated new movie starring our favorite actor turned out to be a big letdown

Verb

with my poor performance I really felt that I had let my teammates down

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Game 1 could be an emotional letdown for the Dodgers after the Game 5 win. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024

The habit of enlarging your perspective on a regular basis has cumulative effects that develop muscle memory to dwarf professional letdowns. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024

Verb

The rate at which animals are being let down is an alarming pace. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

In typical 2024 White Sox fashion, the team let down quite a few fans on Tuesday, as those who were hoping to witness the historic loss went home unhappy. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

letdown

1 of 2 noun

let·​down ˈlet-ˌdau̇n 

1

: disappointment sense 2

2

: a slackening of effort

let down

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)let-ˈdau̇n

1

: to fail to help or support

let down a friend in a crisis

2

: to fail to come up to expectations : disappoint

the end of the story lets the reader down

Medical Definition

letdown

1 of 2 noun

ˈlet-ˌdau̇n

: a physiological response of a lactating mammal to suckling and allied stimuli whereby increased intramammary pressure forces previously secreted milk from the acini and finer tubules into the main collecting ducts from where it can be drawn through the nipple

let down

2 of 2 transitive verb

-ˈdau̇n 

: to release (formed milk) within the mammary gland or udder