Definition

Verb: 1. To diminish in intensity, force, or severity; to become less strong or active. This meaning is often used to describe weather conditions (like rain or storms) or other persistent, forceful phenomena. 2. To reduce pressure, effort, or intensity; to ease off. This meaning describes a person or agent deliberately decreasing the force or pace of an action.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (Intransitive - to become less intense):
  • The heavy rain finally let up in the afternoon.
  • If the pain doesn't let up, you should see a doctor.
  • The wind let up enough for us to go outside.
• Verb (Transitive - to reduce pressure/intensity):
  • You should let up on the accelerator when you approach the curve.
  • His coach told him to let up a bit during training to avoid injury.
  • She never lets up on her demands for perfection.

Advanced Usage

• "To not let up": To continue without stopping or decreasing in intensity. This is a common negative form.
  • The criticism from the media did not let up for weeks.
  • He worked for twelve hours without letting up.

Variants and Related Words

• Letup (noun): A reduction in intensity or a pause; a respite.
  • We worked for hours without a letup.
  • There was a brief letup in the fighting.

Synonyms

• Abate: To become less intense or widespread.
• Subside: To become less intense, violent, or severe.
• Ease off / Ease up: To reduce in speed, intensity, or pressure.
• Diminish: To become or make less.
• Slacken: To reduce or cause to reduce in speed, intensity, or tightness.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ease up: Very similar in meaning to "let up," meaning to reduce pressure or intensity.
  • You should ease up on him; he's doing his best.
• Let up on (someone/something): To treat someone or something less severely or critically.
  • The teacher refused to let up on the students before the final exam.

Related Idioms

• Without letup: Continuously and without any reduction in effort or intensity.
  • It rained without letup for three days.

Verb

1. reduce pressure or intensity
   • he eased off the gas pedal and the car slowed down
2. become less in amount or intensity
   • The storm abated
   • The rain let up after a few hours