Phrasal verb
go down
Definitions
01to descend
A2 · Elementary
phr.v. to move from a higher place to a lower one, like using stairs or a lift.
phr.v. to move from a higher to a lower physical position or level. The verb is intransitive in this sense.
日本語:降りる※
“We had to go down three flights of stairs because the elevator was broken.”
“The hikers decided to go down the mountain before the storm arrived, choosing the steeper but faster southern trail.”
02to decrease
A2 · Elementary
phr.v. to become lower in amount, price, or level.
phr.v. to decrease in value, amount, or intensity. Often used with subjects like prices, temperatures, or unemployment rates.
日本語:下がる※
“The price of petrol usually goes down during the winter months.”
“Economists predict that interest rates will go down once inflation is brought under control by the central bank.”
03sun setting
A2 · Elementary
phr.v. when the sun moves below the horizon at the end of the day.
phr.v. to set below the horizon. Relational to the transition from day to evening.
日本語:沈む※
“We sat on the beach and watched the sun go down.”
“As the sun went down, the temperature in the desert dropped rapidly, forcing the campers to start a fire.”
Synonyms
04to be received
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
phr.v. how people react to an idea, a joke, or a performance.
phr.v. to be received or accepted by an audience or a specific group of people.
“His joke about the boss didn't go down very well at the meeting.”
“The proposal to reduce annual leave did not go down well with the union representatives during the first round of negotiations.”
Synonyms
05to stop functioning
B1 · Intermediate Computing
phr.v. when a computer, a website, or a system stops working.
phr.v. to cease functioning or to become unavailable, specifically regarding computers, servers, or mechanical systems.
“The company's website went down for two hours yesterday afternoon.”
“The entire internal network went down after a power surge damaged the main server room equipment.”
06to be remembered
B2 · Upper Intermediate
phr.v. to be recorded or remembered in a certain way in history.
phr.v. to be recorded or remembered in history or in a formal record. Usually followed by 'as' or 'in history'.
“This victory will go down in history as one of the greatest upsets.”
“The CEO's decision to pivot the company's strategy will likely go down as the most significant turning point in its fifty-year history.”
Synonyms
07to happen
B2 · Upper Intermediate Slang
phr.v. to take place or happen, especially something exciting or bad.
phr.v. to take place or occur. Often used to describe events that are unfolding or being planned.
“Nobody really knows what went down during the argument last night.”
“The witnesses were reluctant to tell the police exactly what went down when the fight broke out in the club.”
08to be defeated
B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports Informal
phr.v. to lose a game or a fight, especially by a large amount.
phr.v. to suffer a defeat in a competition or conflict.
“The champion went down in the fifth round after a heavy blow.”
“Despite their early lead, the home team went down four-nil in the final quarter of the match.”
Synonyms
09to go to prison
C1 · Advanced Law Slang
phr.v. to be sent to prison for a crime.
phr.v. to be convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
“He went down for five years for his part in the robbery.”
“The defense attorney argued that his client was a minor player, but the judge ruled he would still go down for the conspiracy.”
Synonyms
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'go up' (increase); introduce the core meaning of 'decrease' first before exploring other senses like the sun setting or a system failing.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
subject + go + down
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/go-down
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0