letdown

or let-down

[ let-doun ]

noun

1. a decrease in volume, force, energy, etc.:

   a letdown in sales; a general letdown of social barriers.

2. disillusionment, discouragement, or disappointment:

   The job was a letdown.

3. depression; deflation:

   He felt a terrible letdown at the end of the play.

4. the accelerated movement of milk into the mammary glands of lactating mammals upon stimulation, as by massage or suckling.
5. Aeronautics. the descent of an aircraft from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or to making a target run or the like.

Word History and Origins

Origin of letdown¹

First recorded in 1760–70; noun use of verb phrase let down

Example Sentences

There’s always a chance of a letdown, but that’s unlikely at home against a two-win opponent.

From Los Angeles Times

“Nothing is worse than a kid saving up their money to buy something like I did when I was 15, and then getting home and looking in the mirror and it’s a massive letdown,” says Andrade.

From Los Angeles Times

Sam Farmer’s pick: The Chargers put together three great quarters on defense before a fourth-quarter letdown last weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

The Chargers put together three great quarters on defense before a fourth-quarter letdown last weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

So even though I knew that the northern lights would be a letdown, I still tried my best to see them over the weekend.

From Slate

Related Words

• anticlimax
• comedown
• setback