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Glite Dictionary
to write down

to write down

214 1.1
Put information on paper to help you remember it later
  • phrasal verb
  • /raɪt daʊn/
translation icon : anotar
  • After the meeting, he decided to write down all the important points for future reference.
  • write down notes
  • write down ideas
  • write down thoughts

So more than half wrote down four or more cuts.

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Examples

  • Students are asked, for instance, to write down each subject and verb per sentence.

    Academic text (1990)

  • The solution I am going to write down looks like this.

  • OK, So what can you write down on your paper?

  • Now, in the model that Martin wrote down, you can.

  • To do that, we just write down F of X.

  • OK, so now we can finally write down T.

  • Of course, we could write down what they say.

    Another Stakeout (1993)

  • I wrote down a few things for you to say.

    Foxcatcher (2014)

  • Everyone take out a piece of paper... and write down the name of every living member of your family.

    The Faculty (1998)

  • It might help to write down backstories for your characters.

    Film Courage

Synonyms

to record
vsto write down
762 2.3

To make a written, audio, or video copy of something for later use

is limited to making a written note mainly to help memory
to note
vsto write down
158 1.3

To write something down so you do not forget it

is the general habit of noting information to remember later
to put down
vsto write down
117 2.4

To write something so you do not forget it

is the general act of noting information to remember later
to get down
vsto write down
52 3.4

To write something down on paper or a screen

focuses on noting information to aid later memory rather than any content type
to take down
vsto write down
30 3.4

To write something so you can remember it

is the general act of noting information for later memory rather than official record
to jot down
vsto write down
  • Informal
27 2.9

To write a short note quickly to remember something

is broader, covering any written recording not only quick reminders
to write out
vsto write down
25 2.4

Put all the details on a form or paper

usually means noting information briefly to help later recall rather than full detail
to set down
vsto write down
13 3.8

To write words or information so they are recorded

is the general act of noting facts to remember rather than formal recording
to jot
vsto write down
8 3.9

To write something quickly as a short note

is the wider practice of noting information deliberately for memory
to handwrite
vsto write down
2 3.4

Write something by hand instead of typing it

is about making a written record to aid memory rather than the writing method
to pen in
vsto write down
1 4.2

To write down an idea, plan, or appointment

is the general act of noting information to remember later
to dash down
vsto write down
1 4.4

To write something quickly without much care

emphasizes deliberate recording to remember rather than careless speed

How Thorough

to document
365 3.4
to write down
214 1.1
to jot down
  • Informal
27 2.9

Surface Forms

write down infinitive
writing down present participle
writes down third person singular
wrote down past
written down past participle

Morphology

write + down

The meaning 'to record information by writing it' is directly and predictably derived from 'write' (to inscribe) combined with the particle 'down', which in English commonly signals putting something into a lasting, lower or fixed form. This verb+particle composition follows a regular, cross-linguistically familiar pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb write down creates a simple picture: you write words and put them down on paper so you won't forget them. So it means 'to record information so you won't forget it later'.