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to down

to down

161 5.4
Eat or drink something quickly and completely
  • verb
  • /daʊn/
  • Informal
: zamparse
  • He quickly downed his drink before heading out to the party.
  • downed a drink
  • downed a glass
  • downed a bottle

Examples

  • Once he had downed the pills, he relaxed and quit tensing himself against the pain.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Trembling violently, he raised the cup to his mouth and downed the contents to prove it wasn't poisoned.

    Academic text (2000)
  • God, the last thing I remember was downing a drink at that club.

  • Phone to his ear, Harry downs another drink and sits up.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The man with the headache is downing one shot after another.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • When she downed her last swallow, she said, "I guess it's past time to go to bed."

    Academic text (2009)
  • He downed the glass right there.

  • I picked up the bowl and downed the soup in several gulps.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Three cups of coffee, downed in quick succession, had restored his good humor remarkably.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Two truckers chatted at the counter, polishing off key lime pie and downing bottomless cups of coffee.

    Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

to consume
vsto down
198 2.4

To eat or drink something

adds the idea of doing this quickly and completely
to go through
vsto down
30 3.3

To eat or use something quickly until it is finished

matches quick complete consumption but is less about using items
to chug
vsto down
  • Informal
29 5.0

To drink something quickly in large gulps

includes quick complete intake but applies to both eating and drinking
to slam down
vsto down
  • Informal
19 6.0

Put something down hard so it makes a loud noise or quickly drink something

is quick and complete but neutral about forceful noisy action
to devour
vsto down
15 2.9

To eat food quickly because you are very hungry

is quick and complete but not always strongly eager
to suck down
vsto down
  • Informal
12 7.7

To drink or eat something very quickly, often without pausing

is quick and complete but does not always imply greediness
to drink down
vsto down
11 3.2

To empty a glass quickly in one long gulp

is quick and complete but applies equally to eating or drinking
to gulp down
vsto down
  • Informal
9 3.1

To eat or drink something quickly without stopping

is quick and complete but not necessarily gulping or greedy
to wolf down
vsto down
  • Informal
8 5.8

Eat food very quickly when you are very hungry

is quick and complete but neutral about hunger or eagerness
to get down
vsto down
6 4.4

To manage to swallow food or medicine when it is hard

is about speed and completeness rather than the difficulty of swallowing
to pop
vsto down
  • Informal
2 8.2

To drink an alcoholic drink quickly

is quick and complete but not necessarily informal or drink specific
to pour down
vsto down
  • Informal
1 5.7

To drink all of a glass or bottle quickly in one go

matches quick complete intake but is specifically about liquids
to kill
vsto down
  • Informal
1 8.5

Drink an alcoholic drink or bottle completely in one session

is about quick complete intake generally, not only alcohol
to demolish
vsto down
  • Informal
1 3.7

Eat all the food very quickly

is focused on fast complete intake without stressing enthusiasm
to swill down
vsto down
  • Informal
1 8.0

To drink a lot very quickly, often alcohol

is quick and complete but not limited to drinking or alcohol
to bolt down
vsto down
  • Informal
1 3.7

To eat or drink very quickly, often without chewing

is fast and complete but less extreme about pausing or chewing
to snack down
vsto down
  • Informal
1 7.7

To eat small amounts of food quickly and casually

is quick and complete but usually refers to full meals or drinks
to toss off
vsto down
  • Informal
1 8.4

To drink a whole glass quickly, often of alcohol

is quick and complete but also applies to nonalcoholic intake
to belt down
vsto down
  • UK
1 8.5

To drink quickly, often alcohol

is fast and complete but not necessarily limited to alcohol
to garbage down
vsto down
  • Informal
8.9

To eat a lot of food quickly and greedily

is quick and complete but not necessarily large quantity or greed

Antonyms

80 4.1

To enjoy something slowly and fully while noticing every part

55 2.0

To eat small, gentle bites slowly or a little at a time

Idioms

423 1.9

Moving both ways along the whole length of something

194 3.7

At a time in the future

deep down
  • Informal
180 3.5

In your real feelings or beliefs that you do not show

70 4.4

At some point in the future

hands down
  • Informal
44 3.2

Very easily and much better than others

A repeated movement where both feet leave the ground to show excitement

down memory lane
  • Informal
30 6.5

Remembering happy or important times from the past

down to the wire
  • Informal
21 7.0

Not decided until the very last moment before a deadline

13 5.5

Tell people firmly what they must do

12 7.7

Poor and without a home or money

10 8.8

To betray someone to get something for yourself

10 8.1

Completely unable to move or continue because of extreme tiredness

down pat
  • Informal
8 7.5

Learned so well you can do it without thinking

Prepare for trouble by taking steps to stay safe

To suddenly speak angrily and criticize someone for a small mistake

7 7.4

When things become very difficult and you must act

A sudden feeling of fear or excitement that moves along your back

6 5.8

Feeling sad and low

Sick with the flu and unable to go out

Found unprepared and embarrassed when something unexpected happens

hands-down
  • Informal
5 4.1

Won or achieved very easily without trying hard

5 5.9

Reach a point where the result is not decided until the last moment

To openly challenge someone in front of others

To continue until the last possible moment while the result is not known

Start talking about the most important details

Cause someone to feel a sudden strong fear or excitement

Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them

4 5.1

At a later time

Make someone feel a sudden strong fear or excitement

3 5.5

To make an audience clap and cheer loudly

3 4.2

Money people waste when they make a bad choice

Things that rise will later fall, for example prices or fortunes

2 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

To start dealing with the most important details

1 4.6

Having too much work or responsibility to manage

down a dark path
  • Informal
1 8.2

To start behaving in a bad or dangerous way that harms your life

1 7.8

Feeling sad or unhappy

Able to get better after a setback

1 8.1

Doing something that leads nowhere useful

1 9.9

Completely ruined or wasted and no longer useful

1 8.2

To take firm action to punish someone

Completely right for someone or something

1 6.5

Very tired and weighed down by too much work or worry

1 9.9

Aware of and interested in what young people like

Be perfect for someone or something

1 8.2

Looking old and in poor condition because of poverty

Help someone stop being sad and start smiling

To treat someone badly when they already have problems

To do something very well after a lot of practice

1 9.9

To criticize someone who stands out to make them seem less successful

The final careful stage of a task when you do the small details

To vomit into a toilet after drinking too much

Phrasal Verbs

∞ 1.0

Move from standing into a chair or onto the ground

∞ 2.8

To become lower, for example temperature or prices

∞ 2.9

Stop a machine, business, or system from working

∞ 1.0

To lower something from your hands onto a surface

to calm down
  • Informal
989 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

893 1.4

To move or act more slowly

538 1.1

Put information on paper to help you remember it later

440 3.3

To search for someone or something until you find them

430 2.9

Make someone feel disappointed by not doing what you promised

403 1.0

To put your body flat on a bed to rest or sleep

389 1.9

To become less in amount, size, or value

373 2.9

Refuse an offer, invitation, or request

359 4.0

To depend on the main point

348 1.8

To crouch or kneel down to a lower position

337 3.8

To depend on one main thing

326 1.0

Suddenly move from a standing position to the ground or a lower level

300 3.6

To stop people or groups from becoming stronger

294 1.8

To move something from a high place to a lower place

291 3.0

To destroy a building or object completely by fire

289 3.7

To lose a competition or fight

267 3.3

Move something or someone from a higher to a lower place, for example land an aircraft

207 3.0

To remove something that is fixed or standing, for example stage equipment

206 2.8

To separate something into smaller parts to explain or study it

200 3.2

To stop working because of a problem

190 3.7

To destroy a building or other structure completely

175 2.9

To stop operating permanently, like a shop or company

167 3.0

Use force to make someone or something fall to the ground

166 2.5

To become quiet and calm after being excited

157 3.3

Give up an important job so someone else can take over

to bring down
  • Informal
153 4.3

Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad

149 3.2

To bring something or someone down from a higher place

149 4.4

Fire at a plane or missile so it falls to the ground

147 2.7

Make the sound or heat from something lower, for example music

147 3.0

To start living a quiet, steady life by having a regular job or a family

146 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

145 2.7

To make something smaller in amount or number

143 5.1

To stop doing a job, duty or action after someone tells you to

143 3.9

Search for and find someone or something after a lot of effort

137 3.5

Make a list of choices smaller until only a few remain

127 3.5

To climb down from a horse or similar animal

123 3.0

Make an amount or level lower

121 4.4

To start doing work or a task seriously

117 3.9

To lose control of your feelings and cry or collapse

108 3.5

To remove barriers that stop people from doing something

106 2.0

Make something move down by using force

98 4.0

To pull something down by weight or force

95 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

to boil down
  • Informal
93 4.2

Come to the main point or idea

90 1.8

To fall from a higher place to a lower place

Cause a big sudden change that leaves people confused

88 3.2

To keep something low and stop it from getting bigger

84 1.6

To move something from a high place to a lower place

82 3.8

To take strong action to stop illegal or wrong behavior

to take down
  • Informal
82 5.1

To say cruel things to make people think less of someone

78 4.6

To make a leader or government lose power

75 3.8

To sink into water, like a boat that hits something

to gun down
  • Offensive
75 7.4

To shoot someone, often causing serious harm or death

69 1.9

To make a tree or plant fall by cutting it at the base

to lay down
  • Formal
66 3.9

Officially set a rule or law that people must follow

to look down on
  • Offensive
66 3.7

Think you are better than someone and treat them as less important

62 4.1

Slowly make a person or thing weaker by repeated pressure

to put down
  • Offensive
62 4.9

To make someone feel unimportant by saying bad things about them

61 4.3

To become ill with a disease like a cold

60 1.0

Help someone into a seat by showing or guiding them

59 4.0

To be remembered for something important by many people

to wind down
  • Informal
59 3.7

To relax after a busy or stressful time and slowly come to an end

59 1.0

To move below the horizon, like the sun at sunset

to cool down
  • Informal
58 2.5

Feel less angry or excited

57 3.3

To say numbers backwards to zero before an event starts

57 2.4

To write something so you do not forget it

57 2.0

With the front side turned down toward a surface

56 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

55 2.8

Give traditions, stories, or things to younger family members

Compounds

268 2.0

With the top where the bottom usually is

78 3.1

A first payment you make when you buy something and pay the rest in later payments

60 1.8

Turned so the top is where the bottom normally is

48 4.1

A person who is practical and sensible in a friendly, not showy way

44 3.6

A formal meal or meeting where people sit together to talk

43 4.4

In very poor condition and not working because of age or neglect

right-down
  • Informal
19 7.2

Shows that something is completely bad

18 3.0

A used piece of clothing or item given from one person to another

13 4.9

A quick search of someone's clothes by touching to find hidden items

12 3.1

A shirt or collar with the ends fastened by buttons

watered-down
  • Informal
11 4.6

Something that is less strong or useful because people change it to avoid problems

drop-down
  • Specialized
10 3.9

A list of choices that appears below when you click it

put-down
  • Offensive
9 6.6

A remark that makes someone feel small or embarrassed

Has only the basic parts and no extra features

8 4.6

A decrease in amount or level, for example moving to a lower job

man down
  • Jargon
8 6.5

A person who is injured or unable to move

A shirt with collar points that fasten down with buttons

stand-down
  • Jargon
5 6.3

A temporary pause in military activity to let troops rest and stop being on alert

drop-down menu
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A list of options that appears below a menu item so you can choose one

4 4.1

Carrying a heavy load like bags or boxes

A cake you bake with fruit on the bottom then flip so it sits on top

3 3.8

Soft fine feathers from under a goose used as warm filling

3 4.1

Owned before and then given or sold to another person

3 4.0

Describing clothing or objects that have been used and are given to someone else

3 7.9

Very poor and without money, a job, or a home

low-down
  • Slang
3 8.5

True information about something often not widely known

write-down
  • Specialized
3 6.4

A reduction in the value of something a company owns to show it is now worth less

sit-down
  • Archaic
2 6.4

Workers who stay in their workplace and refuse to leave until the employer meets their demands

Workers stay at their workplace and refuse to work until demands are met

dressing down
  • Informal
2 6.1

A severe scolding from someone in charge, often in front of other people

1 7.7

A person with no money, job, or home

dressing-down
  • Informal
1 7.7

A strong angry talk that tells someone they did something wrong

1 3.2

A very soft feather under a bird's outer feathers that keeps the bird warm

1 4.2

Older family members give things like clothes or recipes to younger ones

1 6.5

Further down on the page below the current section

Down syndrome
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A condition present at birth caused by an extra chromosome that makes learning harder and gives typical physical features

A dress with a collar and buttons down the front

down-bow
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A bow movement from the part near your hand toward the tip when playing a string instrument

1 8.2

Soft fine feathers under a swan's outer feathers used to fill clothes or bedding

1 7.4

An act of saying you were wrong or changing your view

down quark
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very small particle inside protons and neutrons with an electric charge of minus one third

step-down
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A device like a transformer that lowers electrical voltage

Very violent and intense, often about a fight or argument

1 2.8

Soft fine feathers from a duck used to fill warm bedding and clothing

1 9.9

A person from Maine, often from the eastern coast

1 4.2

An act of completely taking down a building so it no longer exists

A shirt whose collar has buttons that keep it in place

1 9.8

A very soft wool fabric used for baby clothes

1 7.0

A rule that limits how much something can rise

step-down transformer
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A device that lowers high electric voltage so appliances work safely

To move something like curtains or equipment down to a lower place

A large British sheep with a dark face and a thick coat that people keep for meat and wool

push-down queue
  • Specialized
7.7

A pile where the last item put on is the first taken off

push-down stack
  • Specialized
6.0

A list where the last item added is the first removed

push-down storage
  • Specialized
7.8

A way to store items so the last one added is the first taken out

push-down store
  • Specialized
8.2

A storage where the last thing put in comes out first, like a pile of plates

push-down list
  • Specialized
7.5

A list where the last thing you put in comes out first

Money kept to pay for a planned new project or a large cost

Leaving a position of authority or responsibility

How Fast

to down
  • Informal
161 5.4
to chug
  • Informal
29 5.0
to gulp
38 2.9
to drink
∞ 1.0
to sip
153 1.0

Surface Forms

down infinitive
downed past
downed past participle
downing present participle
downs third person singular

Etymology

Down meaning to eat or drink quickly comes from the image of sending something 'down' into your stomach, so to down food is to swallow it fast.