let up meaning and examples

Meaning

The phrasal verb “let up” means to become less intense, to weaken, or to stop gradually. It can also mean to give someone a break, ease pressure, or stop being strict.

Grammar and Usage

• Intransitive phrasal verb: "let up" is used without a direct object.
• Commonly used with subjects like rain, wind, pressure, pain, work etc.
• Also used figuratively in conversations when referring to relaxing pressure or effort.

Patterns:

• Something lets up → “The rain finally let up.”
• Let up on (sb/sth) → “The teacher didn’t let up on the homework.”

Common Phrases

• The rain let up
• The pressure won’t let up
• He won’t let up on me
• Work never seems to let up

Collocations

• Rain/Storm/Weather + let up
• Pain/Headache + let up
• Pressure/Workload + let up
• Let up on + someone/something

Examples

1. The rain finally let up after three hours.
2. The pain in my back hasn’t let up all day.
3. Work has been so busy lately; it just doesn’t let up.
4. The coach refused to let up on the players, even during training.
5. I wish my boss would let up on me a little.
6. The storm let up enough for us to go outside.
7. She kept studying hard and never let up until the exam was over.
8. The pressure won’t let up until we finish the project.

Synonyms or Related

• ease off
• die down
• abate
• slacken
• relent

Antonym

• intensify
• build up
• increase
• tighten up