Standard Lemma guide

let-down

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈlɛtdaʊn/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A disappointment or anticlimax.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

Examples

  • After seeing all the advertisements, the show itself was quite a let-down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The neurohormonal release of milk in dairy cows or in breastfeeding human mothers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The clearance of an aircraft to descend through clouds to clear air below, or the process of granting such a clearance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

Examples

  • The flight received a radar letdown from air traffic control.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Deverbal from let down.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разочарование (razočarovanie) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Finnish: pettymys — disappointment or anticlimax
  • French: déception — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Galician: decepción — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Galician: chasco — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Galician: desencanto — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Galician: desengano — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Galician: desilusión — disappointment or anticlimax
  • German: Enttäuschung — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Hungarian: csalódás — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Italian: delusione — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Italian: smacco — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Macedonian: разочарување (razočaruvanje) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Polish: zawód — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Portuguese: decepção — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Russian: крах (krax) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Russian: разочарова́ние (razočarovánije) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Russian: прова́л (provál) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Russian: обло́м (oblóm) — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Spanish: decepción — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Spanish: chasco — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Swedish: besvikelse — disappointment or anticlimax
  • Finnish: maidontulo — release of milk
  • French: montée de lait — release of milk
  • Polish: wypływ — release of milk