# narrow down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/narrow-down
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to make a list of choices or possibilities smaller so you can focus on the best ones.

For teachers: to reduce a large number of options or possibilities to a smaller, more manageable set. This transitive phrasal verb typically implies a process of elimination.

## Examples

- We need to narrow down our choices for the summer holiday.
- The committee spent all afternoon trying to narrow down the fifty applications to a shortlist of just five people.
- By analyzing the chemical signatures in the soil, the geologists were able to narrow down the search area for the rare mineral deposit significantly.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We narrowed down the list in three options." but "We narrowed down the list to three options." — the preposition 'to' is used to indicate the final number or result of the narrowing process.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a plural noun like 'options', 'choices', or 'candidates'.
- Teaching tip: encourage students to use this when discussing decision-making processes; it pairs well with the preposition 'to' to show the final result.

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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.