letdown

American  

[let-doun] / ˈlɛtˌdaʊn /

Or let-down

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.

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Etymology

Origin of letdown

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

Example Sentences

Pakistan's pullout will result in a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for broadcasters, and will be a huge letdown for fans on both sides.

From Barron's

Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said the U.S. jobs market seems to have stabilized after a big letdown last year, justifying the Fed’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged.

From MarketWatch

The Rams are certainly capable of a letdown.

From Los Angeles Times

That may be somewhat of a letdown after the past three years—yet history is rife with examples of much worse outcomes.

From Barron's

That may be somewhat of a letdown after the past three years—yet history is rife with examples of much worse outcomes.

From Barron's

Related Words

• anticlimax
• comedown
• setback