# keep down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to stop something from increasing, or to keep a noise at a low level.

For teachers: to maintain something at a low level or to prevent an increase in size, number, or intensity; often used transitively with objects like 'prices', 'costs', or 'noise'.

## Examples

- Please keep the noise down while the baby is sleeping.
- The government is trying to keep down inflation to help families with their monthly bills.
- Despite the surge in demand for raw materials, the manufacturer managed to keep down production costs through aggressive automation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Keep down the noise!" but "Keep the noise down!" — while both are grammatically possible, placing the object between the verb and particle is much more common for sounds.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'noise' or 'voice' in a command, or with economic terms like 'prices'.
- Teaching tip: this phrasal verb has several distinct senses; focus on the 'control/limit' sense first before introducing the physical sense of not vomiting food.

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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.