down
/daʊn/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈaʊn] /daʊn/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈaʊn] /ˈdau̇n/ (ame, mw) · /daʊn-/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈaʊn] /daʊn-/ (ame, ipa)
down — verb
- downpresent simple I / you / we / they
- downs3rd person singular
- downing-ing form
- downedpast simple
1. to use force — such as hitting, shooting, or strong wind — to bring someone or s
to use force — such as hitting, shooting, or strong wind — to bring someone or something from an upright position onto the ground.
A powerful storm downed the old oak tree in Tuan's back garden.
weather subject + down + object (tree)
The fighter jet was downed by a missile during the training exercise.
passive: be downed by [thing]
The police officer downed the attacker with a single shot to the leg.
Heavy snow downed telephone wires across the village last night.
The boxer downed his opponent in the third round with a right hook.
- knock down
more common in everyday speech; often used for people in accidents or fights
- bring down
slightly more formal; common for aircraft or animals
- fell
specific to cutting down trees with a tool; more technical
文法句型
down + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used in news reports about storms, military action, or sports. The passive form (be downed by) is very common when the cause is emphasised.
常見錯誤
2. to consume all of a meal, drink, or serving of medicine in a single quick action
to consume all of a meal, drink, or serving of medicine in a single quick action, often due to hunger, thirst, or haste.
Selim downed his glass of water and asked for a refill.
down + drink (object = glass of water)
The children downed their breakfast and ran to catch the bus.
down + meal (object = breakfast)
Wren downed the bitter medicine in one gulp and made a face.
After the long hike, Sana downed her sandwich in under a minute.
The runners downed bottles of water at the finish line.
文法句型
down + noun phrase (food/drink)
用法筆記
Informal — used in casual conversation, not in formal writing. The object is always the thing consumed, not the person eating. Frequently used for drinks (down a beer, down a shot).
常見錯誤
3. to beat an opponent in a sports match, game, or competition.
to beat an opponent in a sports match, game, or competition.
The underdog team downed the champions 3–1 in the final match.
down + opponent + score
Olivia downed her chess opponent with a clever trap on move fifteen.
down + opponent in strategy game
The home team downed their biggest rivals in front of a record crowd.
Renata downed the top seed to win her first professional title.
文法句型
down + noun phrase (team/opponent)
用法筆記
Used in sports journalism and commentary. Sounds more dramatic and concise than 'defeat' or 'beat'. Common collocations include team names, 'the champions', 'top seed', or 'rivals'.
常見錯誤
down — noun
- downsingular
- downsplural
1. the soft fine feathers that grow under the outer feathers of birds, used as fill
the soft fine feathers that grow under the outer feathers of birds, used as filling for pillows, quilts, and warm winter coats
Tariq bought a pillow filled with down because he wanted a softer place to sleep.
uncountable noun: pillow filled with down
This winter coat contains down and keeps the wearer warm without adding much weight.
The hotel pillows are all made of down and feel extremely soft against the skin.
Daichi prefers a synthetic filling over down because his allergy to feathers causes sneezing.
用法筆記
Uncountable — you cannot say 'a down' when referring to feathers. Use 'down' on its own or 'a piece of down' for a single feather.
常見錯誤
2. the layer of extremely fine and delicate hairs found on human skin or on the out
the layer of extremely fine and delicate hairs found on human skin or on the outer surface of some plants and fruits
The baby's cheeks were covered in a soft down that felt silky to the touch.
singular: a soft down
Ritu noticed the fine down on the peach and wiped it off before eating.
As people grow older, the fine down on their arms often becomes less visible.
The leaves of the plant have a silver down underneath that helps keep them dry.
- fuzz
more informal and everyday, especially for hair on fruit or fabric
- vellus hair
technical term for fine body hair in medical contexts
用法筆記
Can be used as a singular noun with 'a' ('a soft down') when referring to a visible layer of fine hair on a surface. More common in descriptive or scientific contexts than in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
3. one of the four chances a team has to move the ball forward by at least ten yard
one of the four chances a team has to move the ball forward by at least ten yards in American football, with each attempt being a single play
With only one down left, the team needed to gain at least three more yards.
countable: one down / three downs
The quarterback threw a long pass on the first down to surprise the defence.
Christopher watched the defence stop the runner on the third down near the goal line.
On the final down, the kicker attempted a field goal to tie the score.
Imani taught her cousin the rules of downs; he had never watched the sport before.
- play
a single action in football; 'down' specifically refers to one of the four attempts within a series
用法筆記
Always used with ordinal numbers: 'first down,' 'second down,' 'third down,' 'fourth down.' The team must advance the ball ten yards within four downs to keep possession.
常見錯誤
4. an unfair or unreasonable feeling of dislike directed toward a particular person
an unfair or unreasonable feeling of dislike directed toward a particular person, often used in the phrase 'have a down on'
Theo seems to have a down on his new colleague for reasons nobody can explain.
idiomatic phrase: have a down on + person
Faisal could not understand why his teacher had a down on him after one week.
Her manager has a down on anyone who arrives five minutes late for a shift.
The critic had a down on the director, so each film got a harsh review.
- favour
unfair positive treatment, the opposite of a down
文法句型
have a down on + person
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'have a down on [someone].' Not used on its own ('I feel down on him' would not be correct in this sense). This is primarily British English; American speakers would use 'have it in for [someone]' instead.
常見錯誤
down — adjective
- downpositive
- downercomparative
- downestsuperlative
1. feeling sad and without the energy or interest to do things
feeling sad and without the energy or interest to do things
Gabriel has been feeling really down since his dog passed away last month.
collocation: feel down + reason clause with since
Sari looked down after hearing that she had not got the scholarship.
collocation: look down + about result
The long grey winter makes many people feel down and low on energy.
Hugo was down about failing his driving test for the second time.
Whenever Élise feels down, she goes for a long walk by the river.
文法句型
be/feel/look/sound + down
feel down + about/over + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always used after linking verbs such as be, feel, look, or seem. Cannot come before a noun: you cannot say 'a down person' to mean an unhappy person.
常見錯誤
2. used to say that a computer system, website, or piece of equipment is not workin
used to say that a computer system, website, or piece of equipment is not working, usually for a short period of time
The hospital's entire computer network went down for nearly four hours.
pattern: go down + for + duration
The online payment system was down all morning, so customers could not order anything.
passive use with duration: be down + all morning
Sahil could not access his email because the mail server was down.
The airline's booking website is down for maintenance until nine o'clock tonight.
During the storm, several radio towers were down, cutting off communication in the area.
- offline
more technical — specifically means not connected to a network
- out of service
more formal — often used for public equipment like elevators or ATMs
- unavailable
broader meaning — can refer to people as well as machines
- up
the standard opposite in computing — 'the system is up again'
- operational
formal opposite — 'the network is operational'
文法句型
be + down
go + down
be down + for + duration
用法筆記
Commonly used in technical and workplace settings. The subject is usually a computer system, server, network, website, or telecommunications service. Frequently paired with 'go' to describe the moment of failure ('the system went down') or 'be' to describe the state of being unavailable ('the system was down').
常見錯誤
3. in American football, describing a ball carrier whom an opponent has tackled so
in American football, describing a ball carrier whom an opponent has tackled so that he or she cannot advance, which ends the current play
The quarterback was down on the thirty-yard line after a hard tackle.
The referee blew the whistle as soon as the receiver went down with the ball.
pattern: go down — moment of being tackled
The back was down inches from the goal line, so his team did not score.
When a player is down, the officials stop the clock and restart from that spot.
文法句型
be + down
go + down
用法筆記
This sense is specific to American football. In rugby or other field sports, different terms such as 'tackled' or 'grounded' are used. It only appears after linking verbs and cannot be used before a noun.
4. at a lower level, amount, price, or strength than before
at a lower level, amount, price, or strength than before
House prices in the area are down by nearly fifteen percent since last year.
pattern: down + by + percentage change
The temperature is down to minus five degrees tonight, so wrap up warm.
pattern: down + to + value
Sari received a raise even though company profits were down this quarter.
Student numbers at the school are down from four hundred to three hundred and fifty.
After the prize cut, the race winner's share was down to just ten thousand dollars.
文法句型
be + down
be down + by + amount
be down + from + previous value
用法筆記
Commonly used with numbers, prices, percentages, temperatures, and statistics. The amount of decrease can be introduced with 'by' ('down by 10%'), and the resulting value with 'to' ('down to $50'). The contrast with a previous point can be introduced with 'from' ('down from $100 to $50'). Cannot be used attributively before a noun.
常見錯誤
down — adverb
1. closer to the ground; at or moving towards a spot that is below where something
closer to the ground; at or moving towards a spot that is below where something was before
Mira bent down to pick up the coins she had dropped.
verb + down for downward movement
The kite glided down slowly and landed in the garden.
Elena looked down from the window at the busy street below.
A single leaf floated down and rested on the wooden bench.
In the morning the sun came down through the bedroom curtains.
- downward
more formal; used especially in writing for direction ('a downward slope')
- towards the ground
more literal; emphasises the endpoint rather than the motion
- up
the opposite direction, towards a higher position
文法句型
verb + down
verb + down + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used with verbs of motion such as come, go, fall, climb, bend, look, float, and glide. Often followed by a prepositional phrase beginning with from, to, or through.
常見錯誤
2. from a standing or higher position into a sitting, lying, or resting position on
from a standing or higher position into a sitting, lying, or resting position on a surface; or from the sky onto the ground, referring to rain or snow
Roya sat down on the sofa after a long day at school.
verb + down + on [surface]
The puppy lay down on the rug and fell fast asleep.
Élise knelt down to tie her little brother's shoelaces.
Snow came down heavily and covered the streets by morning.
Gabriel told his dog to sit down before giving it a treat.
- onto a surface
literal description rather than a single adverb
- to a resting position
describes the result rather than the motion
- up
from sitting/lying to standing
文法句型
verb + down
verb + down + on/onto [surface]
用法筆記
This sense covers both changing body position (sit, lie, kneel, squat) and precipitation falling (rain, snow). For body positions, the preposition on or onto usually follows. For commands to animals, sit down or lie down are standard.
常見錯誤
3. firmly placed, attached, or secured into position so that nothing moves or comes
firmly placed, attached, or secured into position so that nothing moves or comes loose
Linh hammered the tent pegs down into the hard ground.
verb + object + down + into [something]
Make sure the carpet is glued down at the edges.
passive: be + past participle + down
Folake pressed down firmly on the lid until it clicked.
The wooden crate was strapped down so it would not move.
All the picture frames were nailed down before the storm arrived.
- loose
not firmly attached or secured
文法句型
verb + object + down
be + past participle + down
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice with past participles such as glued, strapped, nailed, screwed, tied, or pinned. The object is usually something that could move or come loose otherwise.
4. so that an amount, level, speed, or degree becomes smaller or less strong — for
so that an amount, level, speed, or degree becomes smaller or less strong — for instance, making a sound quieter or reducing the heat
Christopher turned the volume down so the baby could sleep.
turn [object] down for reducing a level
The price of rice has gone down in the local market.
go down for prices/amounts decreasing
Tara turned down the heat after the soup began to boil.
Rin managed to bring her weight down by eating well.
The wind slowed down as the storm moved out to sea.
- up
to a higher amount, degree, or level
文法句型
verb + down
verb + object + down
用法筆記
Very productive in phrasal combinations with verbs of reduction, including turn down (sound/heat), go down (prices/levels), come down (prices/amounts), bring down (costs/levels), slow down (speed), cool down (temperature), and calm down (emotions). The opposite pattern uses up: turn up, go up, etc.
常見錯誤
5. so that a structure or object is broken, destroyed, or no longer standing becaus
so that a structure or object is broken, destroyed, or no longer standing because of force or effort by someone
The old barn was burned down in the fire last summer.
passive: be burned down for destruction by fire
Workers knocked down the wall to make the kitchen bigger.
Rin cut down the dead tree before it could hit the house.
The storm blew down power lines across the county road.
Anya tore down all the old posters from her bedroom wall.
- to the ground
more literal; emphasises the final position
- apart
suggests breaking into pieces rather than falling ('break apart')
- up
in 'put up' or 'build up', the opposite of destroying or removing
文法句型
verb + object + down
verb + down + object
用法筆記
Used in phrasal combinations that describe destroying or removing something built or standing. The object is typically a structure (building, wall, tree) or something attached (posters, fences). Distinguish from the LOWER POSITION sense: in this sense the object is destroyed or removed, not simply moved downward.
常見錯誤
6. onto paper or into a written or digital record, so that information is saved for
onto paper or into a written or digital record, so that information is saved for later use
Christopher wrote down the meeting date in his notebook.
write down for recording information
Did you put your phone number down on the form?
put down for completing a written field
The teacher wrote down the homework on the whiteboard.
Rania scribbled down the directions while Rin read them out.
Please note down the address before you leave for the trip.
- on paper
emphasises the physical medium
- in writing
emphasises the result rather than the act
文法句型
verb + object + down
verb + down + object
用法筆記
Common in phrasal combinations: write down, put down, note down, take down, copy down, and jot down. These all mean recording information on paper or in a digital document. The object can go between the verb and down ('write the number down') or after down ('write down the number').
常見錯誤
7. at or moving to a location that is far away from where the speaker currently is,
at or moving to a location that is far away from where the speaker currently is, or far from a big city or main area
The nearest supermarket is down in the village, about three kilometres from here.
down in + place name for distant location
Christopher went down to London for a job interview last week.
down to + city for movement towards centre
Élise lives down in the countryside, far from the noise of the city.
Aoi moved down from the city to a small town to start a quieter life.
Dewi went down to the market to buy fresh vegetables for dinner.
- up
indicates movement toward a central or important place, such as a big city
文法句型
down + in/at/to [place]
用法筆記
Often appears in the pattern 'down in/at/to [place]' where the place is understood as being at a distance or less central than the speaker's current location.
常見錯誤
8. in or towards a southern part of a country, region, or the world
in or towards a southern part of a country, region, or the world
The Watanabe family moved down south for warmer weather and lower heating bills.
down south for movement to a southern region
Every autumn the birds fly down to Africa for the winter months.
down to + southern location
Shanti's new job is down in Brighton, so she needs a flat near the beach.
Camila travelled down from Scotland to visit her grandparents in Devon.
The train goes down to the south coast, stopping at several seaside towns.
- southwards
more formal and directional; 'down' is more conversational
- northwards
opposite direction; not typically expressed with 'up' in all contexts
文法句型
down + south
down + in/to [southern place]
用法筆記
Commonly paired with 'south' to form the fixed phrase 'down south'. In British English, 'down' often means travelling away from London toward the south coast.
9. given or transferred by someone older or from an earlier period to someone young
given or transferred by someone older or from an earlier period to someone younger or a later period — for example, when a skill, tradition, or object moves through generations
The silver bracelet has been passed down through four generations of women.
pass down + prepositional phrase for generational transfer
Zuri's father handed down his collection of jazz records to her when she turned sixteen.
These cooking traditions have been handed down from grandmother to granddaughter for centuries.
The old folk songs were passed down by word of mouth before being written down.
Padma treasures the wedding ring that was handed down to her by her great-aunt.
文法句型
pass/hand/send something down
用法筆記
Nearly always appears with the verbs 'pass', 'hand', or 'send'. The object being transferred is typically a skill, tradition, story, or valued item.
常見錯誤
10. into the stomach — used after verbs such as 'swallow', 'get', 'keep', or 'wash'
into the stomach — used after verbs such as 'swallow', 'get', 'keep', or 'wash' to describe food, drink, or medicine going into your body
Leo tried to swallow the bitter medicine down without making a face.
swallow + object + down
Sivan was so nervous before the exam that she could not keep any breakfast down.
keep + object + down (negative)
Kian drank the whole glass of cold water down in a single gulp.
The kitten swallowed a piece of string down and had to go to the vet.
Alessia felt the warm soup go down and her cold symptoms began to ease.
- up
as in 'bring up' meaning to vomit
文法句型
swallow/drink/get/keep something down
用法筆記
Frequently appears in negative contexts with 'keep' — 'cannot keep something down' means unable to stop vomiting. With 'swallow' or 'drink', it adds emphasis to the act of consuming.
常見錯誤
11. as an initial portion of the total price, paid when you buy something — used whe
as an initial portion of the total price, paid when you buy something — used when you pay part of the cost of an expensive item and promise to pay the rest later
They put ten thousand pounds down on a house, paying the rest over twenty-five years.
put + amount + down + on + [item]
Kian paid two thousand down on a used car with monthly payments for the balance.
Most buyers put at least ten per cent down when buying a flat in this city.
Padma paid a small amount down on the sofa to reserve it until next weekend.
Alessia put five hundred euros down on the wedding venue to secure the booking.
- deposit
noun form; 'put down a deposit' is equivalent to 'put money down'
文法句型
pay/put + amount + down
pay/put + amount + down + on + [item]
用法筆記
The amount paid 'down' is called a 'down payment' (US) or 'deposit' (UK). This sense is most common in the patterns 'put [money] down on [item]' and 'pay [money] down on [item]'.
常見錯誤
down — prefix
1. used before nouns, verbs, and adjectives to give the idea of something being in
used before nouns, verbs, and adjectives to give the idea of something being in a lower position, having less importance, power, or value, or becoming worse than before
After the scandal, the CEO's downfall was sudden and complete.
prefix: downfall = fall from power
The factory had to downsize because fewer people were buying its products.
prefix: downsize = reduce in size
The airline downgraded Jin's seat from business class to economy.
Christopher tried to downplay his injury so his mother would not worry.
The downpour lasted three hours and flooded the village roads.
- up-
the opposite prefix, meaning higher, greater, or better (e.g. upgrade, uplift)
用法筆記
The base word keeps its original spelling when down- is attached. Common words formed with this prefix include downfall (a sudden loss of power or success), downsize (to reduce the number of employees), downgrade (to reduce to a lower level), downplay (to make something seem less important), and downpour (a heavy fall of rain).
down — preposition
1. moving from a higher place toward a lower place — for example, going down a hill
moving from a higher place toward a lower place — for example, going down a hill, down stairs, or down a wall
Yael walked carefully down the stairs with her baby brother.
down + the stairs — common direction collocation
Tears rolled down Tanvi's cheeks during the sad wedding scene.
A red kite fell down the roof and landed in the garden.
Karim threw the ball down the hill and his dog ran after it.
Rain ran down the wall after the storm passed over the town.
- up
opposite direction: from a lower to a higher position
文法句型
down + noun phrase (place or surface)
用法筆記
Subject of the sentence is usually a person or thing that moves or is moved. Frequently used with verbs of motion such as walk, run, fall, roll, climb, and flow.
常見錯誤
2. following the line or course of a road, river, path, corridor, or similar surfac
following the line or course of a road, river, path, corridor, or similar surface — moving from one point to another along it
Mayumi walked down the street to buy some bread and milk.
down the street — most common ALONG collocation
Femi's boat drifted down the river toward the old wooden bridge.
There is a nice coffee shop just down the road from the library.
Jin ran down the corridor to catch the elevator before it closed.
Élise pushed her bicycle down the path through the park every morning.
文法句型
down + road/street/river/path/corridor
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (LOWER POSITION), this sense does not imply any change in height — the surface may be flat. The focus is on covering distance along a linear feature.
常見錯誤
3. to or toward the far end of something, or to a particular point along a route —
to or toward the far end of something, or to a particular point along a route — emphasizing the destination or the endpoint rather than the path itself
James lives three houses down the street from the library on the corner.
number + down + noun — distance measurement pattern
The restroom is down the hall on the left, next to the stairs.
Rodrigo walked down the garden to check on his tomato plants.
A gas station sits further down the highway about three miles away.
Mark moved the chairs down the deck so guests could see the view.
文法句型
down + noun phrase (destination or endpoint)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (ALONG): sense 2 describes movement along a linear path without emphasizing the endpoint, while sense 3 focuses on reaching or being at a specific destination. Compare 'She walked down the street' (ALONG, focusing on the act of walking) with 'She lives down the street' (TO, focusing on location).