If you have ever been let down by a friend, needed to calm down after a bad day, or had to write something down before you forgot it, you have already used phrasal verbs with DOWN.
These combinations are all around you in everyday English. You hear them in conversations, read them in books, and see them in movies. This guide covers the most important and commonly used phrasal verbs with DOWN, with clear definitions and real example sentences.
What Is a Phrasal Verb?
A phrasal verb is a verb combined with one or more small words called particles. A particle is usually a preposition or adverb. Together, the verb and the particle create a new meaning.
For example:
- The word break means to damage something.
- But break down means something very different. It means to stop working, or to become very upset.
The word down is one of the most common particles in English. Learning how it works gives you a big advantage when you meet new phrasal verbs.
What Does “Down” Mean in Phrasal Verbs?
Before you look at each verb, it helps to understand the ideas that down often brings to a phrase.
Down often suggests:
- Movement to a lower place: sit down, lie down, fall down
- A reduction or decrease: slow down, calm down, turn down
- Recording something: write down, note down, count down
- Control or force: clamp down, crack down, hold down
- Defeat or failure: let down, bring down, shut down
When you understand these patterns, it becomes much easier to guess the meaning of a new phrasal verb.
Essential Phrasal Verbs with Down
Bring Down
Meaning: To reduce something. To make someone feel sad or unhappy. To remove a leader or government from power.
Examples:
- The government worked hard to bring down fuel prices.
- Stop complaining so much. You are bringing everyone down.
- The protesters helped bring down the old regime.
Break Down
Meaning: To stop working (machines or vehicles). To lose emotional control. To separate something into smaller parts.
Examples:
- My car broke down on the way to work.
- She broke down and cried when she heard the news.
- Let us break down the problem and look at each part.
This is one of the most useful phrasal verbs in English. You will hear it in everyday conversations and in work settings. Phrasal verbs with BREAK go well beyond just break down. You will find many more in the full guide on phrasal verbs with BREAK.
Calm Down
Meaning: To become less angry, upset, or excited. Also used to help someone else feel better.
Examples:
- Calm down. Everything will be fine.
- It took him a long time to calm down after the argument.
- She tried to calm down the upset child.
Close Down
Meaning: To stop operating for good. Often used for shops or businesses.
Examples:
- The small bakery on our street closed down last year.
- Many businesses closed down during the economic crisis.
Come Down
Meaning: To move to a lower place. To decrease. To become sick.
Examples:
- Please come down from the ladder. It is not safe.
- Prices have started to come down this month.
- He came down with a bad flu last weekend.
The verb COME pairs with many different particles, and each one creates a different meaning. If you want to go deeper, read the full guide on phrasal verbs with COME.
Count Down
Meaning: To count backwards toward zero. To wait with excitement for something to happen.
Examples:
- The children counted down the days to the school holidays.
- The team counted down to the start of the big match.
Cut Down
Meaning: To reduce the amount of something. Also to cut a tree so it falls.
Examples:
- Her doctor told her to cut down on salt and sugar.
- Several trees were cut down to build the new road.
- She is trying to cut down on the time she spends watching TV.
Get Down
Meaning: To move to a lower position. To make someone feel sad or low. To focus and start working seriously.
Examples:
- Get down from that wall right now.
- All this rain is really getting me down.
- It is time to get down to work.
Go Down
Meaning: To decrease. To set (used for the sun). To be received by an audience or group.
Examples:
- The temperature went down during the night.
- The sun went down just after seven.
- His speech did not go down well with the crowd.
GO is one of the most common verbs in English, and it combines with particles in many ways. For a full breakdown of all the options, read this guide on phrasal verbs with GO.
Hold Down
Meaning: To keep a job over a period of time. To stop something from moving.
Examples:
- It is not easy to hold down a full-time job and study at the same time.
- He used a heavy book to hold down the papers on his desk.
Let Down
Meaning: To disappoint someone. To fail to do what someone expected of you.
Examples:
- I am sorry. I feel like I let you down.
- The team let down their fans with a very poor game.
- Please do not let me down. I am counting on you.
This phrasal verb comes up often in both personal and work conversations.
Lie Down
Meaning: To move into a flat, resting position.
Examples:
- I feel tired. I need to lie down for a while.
- The doctor told her to lie down and rest for a few days.
Mark Down
Meaning: To reduce the price of something. To give someone a lower grade or score.
Examples:
- All summer clothes have been marked down by 50%.
- The teacher marked him down because of spelling errors.
Note Down / Write Down
Meaning: To record something in writing so you do not forget it.
Examples:
- Write down your ideas now before you forget them.
- She noted down everything that was said in the meeting.
Put Down
Meaning: To place something on a surface. To criticise or insult someone. To end an animal’s suffering. To stop a rebellion by force.
Examples:
- Put down your phone and listen.
- He was always putting her down in front of other people.
- The vet advised them to put down the injured dog.
- Soldiers were sent in to put down the uprising.
Run Down
Meaning: To hit someone with a vehicle. To criticize someone unfairly. To become weak or lose power.
Examples:
- A cyclist was run down by a car near the school.
- Please stop running down your colleagues. It is not fair.
- The battery is running down. We need to charge it soon.
Settle Down
Meaning: To become calm and quiet. To start a stable life in a place. To focus on a task.
Examples:
- Settle down, class. It is time to start.
- He settled down in Sydney after many years of travel.
- It took a while for the noise to settle down.
Shut Down
Meaning: To stop working or operating. To close a system or machine.
Examples:
- The factory was shut down after a safety inspection.
- I need to shut down my laptop and restart it.
- The authorities shut down several illegal websites.
Slow Down
Meaning: To move or work at a lower speed. To do things at a more relaxed pace.
Examples:
- Slow down. You are driving too fast.
- After he turned 60, he decided to slow down and enjoy life more.
- The production line slowed down because of a machine fault.
Stand Down
Meaning: To give up a position or role. To stop being alert or ready for action (military).
Examples:
- The director chose to stand down after the investigation.
- Soldiers were told to stand down after the ceasefire.
Tone Down
Meaning: To make something less strong, harsh, or extreme.
Examples:
- The editor asked her to tone down the language in the article.
- He toned down his response so it would not upset anyone.
Turn Down
Meaning: To reduce the level or volume of something. To say no to an offer or request.
Examples:
- Please turn down the music. It is very loud.
- She turned down the job offer because the pay was too low.
- I was surprised they turned down such a good deal.
Water Down
Meaning: To make something weaker or less effective.
Examples:
- Many people felt the new law had been watered down.
- Do not water down your message. Say what you mean clearly.
Phrasal Verbs with Down in Real Conversations
Seeing these verbs in short dialogues helps you understand how natural they sound in everyday English.
At work:
“We need to cut down on spending this month. Let us break down the budget together. Please do not let me down. The whole team is counting on you.”
At home:
“Calm down, the kids are asleep. Please turn down the TV. I am going to lie down. I think I came down with something.”
In a formal setting:
“The committee voted to shut down the program. The new policy has been watered down. We should write down all the key concerns raised today.”
Tips for Remembering Phrasal Verbs with Down
- Group them by meaning. Learn calm down, slow down, and tone down together. They all suggest reducing something.
- Write your own sentences. Do not just read the definition. Use the verb in a sentence you create yourself.
- Watch and listen. Films, podcasts, and TV shows use these verbs all the time in natural speech.
- Use one new verb each day. Pick one phrasal verb each morning and try to use it before the day ends.
- Use a flashcard app. Tools like Anki help you review words at the right time so you remember them longer.
Keep Learning
Phrasal verbs with DOWN appear every day in natural English. From breaking down a problem to turning down an offer, these verbs are part of how fluent speakers communicate.
Start with the verbs on this page. Pick a few, write your own sentences, and practice them out loud. Come back to this guide often as your vocabulary grows.
When you are ready to go further, explore our other guides on phrasal verbs.
