letdown
Americannoun
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a decrease in volume, force, energy, etc..
a letdown in sales; a general letdown of social barriers.
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disillusionment, discouragement, or disappointment.
The job was a letdown.
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depression; deflation.
He felt a terrible letdown at the end of the play.
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the accelerated movement of milk into the mammary glands of lactating mammals upon stimulation, as by massage or suckling.
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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.
Etymology
Origin of letdown
First recorded in 1760–70; noun use of verb phrase let down
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Renaissance part of the exhibition is so mesmerizing that the modern portion feels like a bit of a letdown.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
The latest letdown comes at an inopportune moment.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
Nothing may ever hold a candle to that evening against Denmark, but this was a bit of a letdown.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
“But D-MER is very specifically characterized by how abrupt it is. It comes on suddenly with milk letdown and resolves quickly. Baby blues don’t behave that way. They’re not tied to a specific physical trigger.”
From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026
When I wake up in the morning, it’s always sort of a letdown as reality hits me.
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
