# takedown

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/takedown
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

the act of defeating someone or removing something from the internet. You use this when a wrestler pins an opponent or when a website removes a post.

For teachers: the act of defeating, disarming, or removing someone or something from a position of influence or visibility. Often refers to physical grappling in sports or the removal of digital content due to legal or policy violations.

## Examples

- The wrestler scored points for a perfect takedown.
- The video platform issued a takedown of the clip after the studio filed a copyright claim.
- The journalist's latest article was a systematic takedown of the senator's economic policy, exposing several inconsistencies in the proposed budget.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The police take down the suspect." but "The police performed a takedown of the suspect." — Learners often confuse the one-word noun 'takedown' with the two-word phrasal verb 'take down'.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in sports, law enforcement, and digital rights contexts.

---

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.