let up

VERB

[/ˌlet ˈʌp/]

to become less intense, severe, or forceful; to stop or pause

💡 Concept

to become less intense, severe, or forceful; to stop or pause

🎵 Rhyme

When storms let up, we get up and set up for tomorrow

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌlet ˈʌp/

🇬🇧 UK/ˌlet ˈʌp/

🌳Etymology

Rootlet up

Origin

The phrasal verb 'let up' emerged in the 14th century from the combination of 'let' (to allow, permit) and 'up' (upward direction). Originally meaning 'to loosen or slacken,' it evolved to denote 'to diminish or reduce in intensity.'

Breakdown

let (allow, permit) + up (upward, away), forming a phrasal verb where 'up' modifies the sense of 'let' to express cessation or reduction rather than mere permission.

🎵Rhyme

set upget upshut up

set up

get up

shut up

🔗Collocations

rain let up

pain let up

pressure let up

storm let up

never let up

let up on someone

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My boss never lets up on the deadline pressure, even during lunch breaks.”

“The traffic jam finally let up after the soccer match ended.”

😄 Fun example

“Her nagging about cleaning my room won't let up until I actually do it.”

“The wind let up just as we were setting up the camping tent.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

ease upsubsideabatediminishweaken

Antonyms

intensifyescalateworsen

calm downdie downslack off

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let up — to become less intense, severe, or forceful; to stop or pause

Example Sentences