Letup

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A reduction in intensity or severity indicates a temporary pause in adverse conditions or difficulties, providing relief from ongoing stress or pressure
2. An easing in the strength or severity signifies a break in challenging circumstances, allowing for a brief respite from ongoing struggles or hardships
3. A temporary reduction in the force or level of something that allows for a brief relief from ongoing pressure or difficulty

Etymology: "Letup" is a deverbal noun, formed from the phrasal verb "let up," which means to slacken, abate, or cease. The noun is simply the verb's action turned into a thing: a letup is the moment when the rain eases or the pressure relents. The verb "let up" itself is built from the everyday verb "let," meaning to allow or permit, combined with the particle "up," which here signals a winding down or stopping. The pattern is a familiar one in English. Phrasal verbs such as "break down," "check in," and "hang-up" have all given rise to nouns of the same shape, with the stress often shifting onto the first syllable when the noun is spoken. "Letup" follows that path, so the noun sounds like its verb in spirit but has settled into its own compact form.

Synonyms: relaxation, cessation, pause

Antonyms: intensification, increase