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

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

"The expectation is that this event should clear the air on the concept," Caldwell added, saying it would be a "letdown" if Tesla fails to reveal a developed concept and operational details on Thursday.

From BBC

And it’s quite a letdown, arriving 90 minutes into the courtroom drama and still hamstrung by vocal restraint.

From Los Angeles Times

Even the season-ending game against Fresno State at the Rose Bowl will come with the team on letdown alert after having played USC.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anticlimax
• comedown
• setback