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

See Examples For:

let down

"While the vast majority of mothers receive good care, I have heard from families who were let down," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

But I feel so let down, so disillusioned.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Karol Kelly's sister had said the family felt "let down" by the justice system after learning that he was on the run.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

I felt like I had let down the entire Tabla team, whose boundless athleticism and loyalty were the primary reasons we’d survived for as long as we had.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Then I let down the drape and went back to bed.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine