# count down to

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/count-down-to
Updated: 2026-08-02

## Definition

to wait for a special event by counting the days or hours until it starts. You use this when you are excited about something coming soon.

For teachers: to wait with anticipation for a specific future event by tracking the remaining time. The verb is intransitive but requires the preposition 'to' to introduce the target event.

## Examples

- We are counting down to the summer holidays.
- The children are counting down to Christmas, checking their advent calendars every single morning.
- Scientists at the space agency were counting down to the launch, monitoring every technical parameter with extreme precision.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am counting down for my birthday." but "I am counting down to my birthday." — The phrasal verb 'count down' requires the preposition 'to' rather than 'for' when indicating the target event.

## Usage notes

- Usually used in the continuous form ('counting down') to emphasize the ongoing feeling of anticipation.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with the literal 'count down' (from 10 to 1); this version focuses on the psychological state of waiting for a deadline or event.

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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.