letup

1 of 2

noun

let·​up ˈlet-ˌəp 

: a lessening of effort, activity, or intensity

let up

2 of 2

verb

let up; letting up; lets up

intransitive verb

1

a

: to diminish or slow down : slacken

b

: cease, stop

2

: to become less severe

—used with on

Synonyms of letup

Noun

• slowdown
• decline
• deceleration
• drop
• slump
• retardation
• braking

Verb

• stop
• conclude
• end
• expire
• cease
• halt
• go

Examples of letup in a Sentence

Noun

the downpour continued for hours without letup

Verb

the rain let up just as we reached the house

the windmill slowed down as the wind let up

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The possibility of finding survivors ​elsewhere ⁠was fading, authorities said, but there was no letup in rescue operations as teams scoured the mountainside along the border with China where floods tore through towns and valleys. — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

There’s minimal letup in the strongest division in the league. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 16 June 2026

Verb

Red lines Washington has also not let up military pressure, ordering strikes on Iranian targets, including last week, when an attack killed 18 people. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

But on this Labor Day, working people are struggling amid an affordability crisis that shows no signs of letting up. — Mario Cilento, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for letup

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

letup

1 of 2 noun

let·​up ˈlet-ˌəp 

: a lessening of effort or force

let up

2 of 2 verb

1

: to slow down : slacken

2

: to come to a stop : cease

the rain let up

3

: to ease off : be less severe

—used with on