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

Throughout the season there was no letup in spending by the nation’s wealthiest, with by some statistics the top 10 income percentile accounting for 50 percent of spending. —David Moin, Footwear News, 26 Dec. 2025

There was no letup in the effort with a huge lead, either. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025

Verb

But those essentials were precisely where inflation showed few signs of letting up. —Allie Canal, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026

The snow should let up around mid-morning, Miller said. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 14 Jan. 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