let down

British  

verb

1. (also preposition) to lower

2. to fail to fulfil the expectations of (a person); disappoint

3. to undo, shorten, and resew (the hem) so as to lengthen (a dress, skirt, etc)

4. to untie (long hair that is bound up) and allow to fall loose

5. to deflate

   to let down a tyre

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noun

1. a disappointment

2. the gliding descent of an aircraft in preparation for landing

3. the release of milk from the mammary glands following stimulation by the hormone oxytocin

let down Idioms  

1. Cause to descend, lower, as in They let down the sails . [Mid-1100s]

2. Also, let up . Slacken, abate, as in Sales are letting down in this quarter , or They didn't let up in their efforts until the end . The first term dates from the mid-1800s, the variant from the late 1700s.

3. See let someone down . Also see let one's hair down .

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Example Sentences

Everywhere we went, residents told us they felt let down by the state.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

Rashford was England's dangerman in the first half and also had opportunities after the break, although he was sometimes let down by a lack of support and some wayward finishing.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Sierah Swepstone, from last year's series, says she feels let down by the show's producers.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

His group’s focus fits with the thing that had let down Sophia.

From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026

The Questing Beast brought up the mar, keeping a tight eye on Palomides, for fear of being let down once again.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

• depressed
• despondent
• miserable
• not happy
• sorry