Letup
/ˈlɛtˌʌp/
nounB2
Definition
A letup means a pause or decrease in something unpleasant or hard, like bad weather, noise, or pressure. It is usually temporary, meaning the difficult situation may start again soon after. People often use it to describe relief or a break from something stressful.
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See It in Action
A pause or decrease in something difficult or unpleasant
- •There was a letup in the rain, so we went outside.
- •The noise from construction showed a brief letup in the afternoon.
- •After hours of hard work, the pressure finally had a letup.
A short break in continuous activity or intensity
- •The team took advantage of the letup in the game to rest.
- •The storm showed no letup all night.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "letup" like "break," but for something bad or hard, not just resting or stopping work
- ✓Picture a heavy rain that suddenly slows down or stops for a short time before starting again
- ✓It's the feeling when a loud noise suddenly becomes quiet for a moment, giving your ears a rest
- ✓Sounds like "let up" → imagine someone "letting up" their grip to make pressure less strong
- ✓Imagine a story where a storm is very strong, then there is a letup, a calm moment before the storm returns
- ✓NOT like "stop" (completely ends), a letup is only a short pause or decrease, not a full end
- ✓NOT like "slow down" (gradual decrease), a letup is often a noticeable pause or relief
- ✓NOT like "rest" (for people), letup is about difficult things becoming less strong or stopping briefly
Try Other Words
- •Pause: a temporary stop (Use when the stop is clear and short, often neutral in feeling)
- •Relief: a feeling or period of less pain or trouble (Use when focusing on the emotional or physical comfort after difficulty)
- •Slowdown: a reduction in speed or intensity (Use when the decrease is gradual, not a full stop)
- •Respite: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult (Use in more formal or serious contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "let" (allow, release) + "up" (direction or increase) → together meaning to allow something to lessen or stop
- •Etymology: From English phrasal verb "let up," meaning to become less strong or stop
- •Historical development: Used since the 1800s to describe reduction of intensity, especially in weather or effort
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in everyday speech and writing to describe temporary relief from negative conditions
- •Key insight: The word captures the idea of something difficult "letting up" or easing for a short time, not ending completely
Reflect & Connect
•Can a letup sometimes be misleading if the difficult situation returns quickly? How do you handle that?
•How does knowing the meaning of letup help you understand weather reports or news about difficult events?
Fill in the blanks
1.The heavy rain showed a letup ___ the afternoon, so people went outside to play.
2.When the noise had a letup, the workers felt ___ to continue their tasks.
3.A letup is different from a full stop because it usually ___ for a short time only.
4.The storm gave no letup all night, which made it ___ for the residents.
5.After a letup in the pressure, the team used the moment to ___ and recover.
6.We hoped for a letup in the heat, but the sun came back ___ and strong.
7.The sudden letup in traffic allowed the cars to ___ more quickly.