# calm down

CEFR A2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to become quiet and relaxed after being angry, excited, or upset.

For teachers: to transition from a state of high emotional arousal or agitation to a state of composure; can be used intransitively or transitively.

## Examples

- Please calm down and tell me what happened.
- After the argument, he went for a long walk to calm down before speaking to her again.
- The central bank's intervention was designed to calm down the volatile markets following the unexpected election results.

## Pitfalls

- Not "You need to calm." but "You need to calm down." — while 'calm' is an adjective, the phrasal verb 'calm down' is required to describe the action of becoming peaceful.

## Usage notes

- often used as an imperative, though this can sometimes make an angry person feel more frustrated.
- Teaching tip: note the silent 'l' in 'calm'; as a transitive verb, the object can go between 'calm' and 'down' (e.g., 'calm him down').

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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.