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

The removal of breast milk also helps to release some of the pressure, so the initial flow of milk out of your breasts (aka the letdown) will not be too forceful for your baby. —Donna Murray, Rn, Parents, 30 July 2024

That said, their companion app could be more intuitive, battery life isn't all that impressive, and the Dolby Head Tracking feature is a letdown. —PCMAG, 8 Aug. 2024

Verb

Sign up At times, Sami is let down by Blenheim's curators, said Michael Delgado in Apollo magazine. —The Week Uk, theweek, 30 Aug. 2024

Negga is a sensitive performer who is sometimes let down by the material given to her quivering character. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 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