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

Example Sentences

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

After anticipating these messages for hours, their nonexistence felt like an even greater letdown. —Ellen O'brien, Outside Online, 12 Jan. 2023

Discovering the fleeting nature of happiness following a big accomplishment can feel like a letdown. —Time, 9 Jan. 2023

The stage certainly seemed set for another letdown, after the crushing loss to Utah kept USC out of the CFP. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2023

Looking for more information may seem like a letdown at first. —Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2022

After a great season of my favorite show on Bravo, the reunion felt a little bit like a letdown, especially because some fan favorites — Paige, Mya, Ciara — were quiet and seemed a bit annoyed. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 May 2022

With only a few scenes standing out as exceptions, the 4DX theater experience mostly felt like a letdown. —Jeremy Hsu, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2015

The Lions suffered a bit of a letdown with last week's loss to the Carolina Panthers but all is not lost. —Tyler J. Davis, Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan. 2023

NFC East-leading Philadelphia remains within reach, too, but Dallas needs help — and really needs to avoid a letdown in Jacksonville. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 18 Dec. 2022

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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