# be down

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/be-down
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to feel sad, unhappy, or discouraged about something.

For teachers: to experience a state of low mood or mild depression; often used as a predicative adjective phrase in informal contexts.

## Examples

- He is down because he failed his driving test.
- She has been down lately since her best friend moved to another city.
- The entire department was down after the board of directors announced the cancellation of the annual bonus scheme.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is downing today." but "He is down today." — in this sense, 'down' acts as an adjective following the verb 'to be', so it does not take an -ing ending.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by 'about' or 'on' to indicate the cause of the sadness.
- Teaching tip: distinguish this emotional sense from the technical sense ('the system is down') or the physical sense ('the sun is down'); this version is highly common in spoken counseling or empathy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.