letdown

American  

[let-daun] / 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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

letdown

Considered a big letdown after the magisterial “Exile on Main St.,” this album has received a well-deserved critical reappraisal and aged like a fine wine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

The video was a big letdown: “It was just a normal, non-ninja, black cat.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 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

It happened when I pumped, and even when I merely anticipated milk letdown.

From Slate ● Mar. 15, 2026

But of course the response was a letdown for Hickock’s attorney, who hopelessly asked, “Can you qualify that answer?”

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

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Related Words

• anticlimax
• comedown
• setback

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