English Profile

down · adverb

/dɑʊn/Full view

down (SURFACE)

A1 moving from above and onto a surface

Dictionary examples:

Just as I was sitting down to watch TV, the phone rang.

Why don't you lie down on the sofa for a while?

This box is really heavy - can we put it down on the floor for a minute?

Get down off that table immediately, you silly girl!

Learner example:

So I sat down to write the answer. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Latvian)

down (LOWER POSITION)

A2 toward or in a low or lower position, from a higher one

Dictionary examples:

Is this elevator going down?

Don't look down! You'll get dizzy.

The sun's going down and it'll be dark soon.

I bent down to look under the bed.

Learner example:

All the mountains were colored when the sun was going down. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swiss German)

down (IN WRITING)

B1 in writing or on paper

Dictionary examples:

Do you have it down in writing/on paper, or was it just a verbal agreement?

I've put you down for three tickets each.

Learner example:

You have to bring a pen and paper to write down the teacher's notes. (Key English Test; A2; Greek)

down (FAR)

B1 used, especially with prepositions, to emphasize that a place is far from you or from somewhere considered to be central

Dictionary examples:

I'll meet you down at the gym after work.

He has a house down by the harbor.

I'm going down to the store to buy some milk.

Learner example:

As soon as we drove down from the hills, I heard the noise from the town and I didn't like that. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Swiss German)

be down in the dumps

C2 to be unhappy

Dictionary example:

He looks a bit down in the dumps.

Learner example:

She felt happy when I was down in the dumps or in a fix and kept on being jealous of me concerning trivial matters. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

down · preposition

/dɑʊn/

down (LOWER POSITION)

A2 in or toward a low or lower position, from a higher one

Dictionary examples:

I slid down the hill.

Aikiko fell down some stairs and broke her wrist.

Learner example:

I was the first to go down the hill. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

down (ALONG)

A2 along or further along

Dictionary examples:

We drove down the highway as far as Cape May.

Her office is down the hall on the right.

They sailed the boat down the river.

Learner example:

Then we went down the Nile by boat. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Arabic)

down the drain

C2 If money or work goes down the drain, it is wasted.

Dictionary example:

If you leave the school now, all your hard work will go down the drain.

Learner example:

All those evening conversations and the investment of 100,000 yen went down the drain, I thought. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Japanese)

down the line

C2 in the future

Dictionary example:

Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road.

Learner example:

For that very reason it seemed natural for Laura and John to take her in, and further down the line they would adopt her. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Danish)

down · adjective

/dɑʊn/

down (UNHAPPY)

B2 unhappy or unable to feel excited or energetic about anything

Dictionary examples:

She's been really down since her husband died.

I've been (feeling) a bit down this week.

Learner example:

If you are feeling down or depressed, what [do] you [do]? (First Certificate in English; B2; Swedish)

down (NOT WORKING)

C1 If a computer or machine is down, it is temporarily not working.

Dictionary example:

The network was down all morning.

Learner example:

If other departments use the online system, it seems to be down for a while. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Korean)

down and out

C2 having no money, no luck and no opportunities

Dictionary example:

Nobody loves you when you're down and out.

Learner example:

The neglect of social security as a vital point in state policies leaves homeless people down and out, with little chance for improving their bleak prospects. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Turkish)