1 A2 neutral
To press or clench the teeth together, especially hard or onto an object.
"The dentist told him to bite down on the cotton pad for a few minutes."
inseparable
bite down
B1 neutral inseparable intransitive
To press the teeth or jaws together firmly, often on something.
In plain English
To close your teeth hard on something.
What does "bite down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To endure pain or difficulty by gritting one's teeth; to push through hardship.
"She bit down on the pain and kept running until she crossed the finish line."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To close the teeth downward onto something — fully transparent.
Actually means
To close your teeth hard on something.
Usage tip
Primarily used in literal, physical contexts — biting on a mouthguard, gum, or to manage pain. Occasionally used figuratively to suggest enduring something difficult. Common in medical and dental contexts.
Words that pair with "bite down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hard mouthguard gum lip tongue pain
How to conjugate "bite down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bite down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bites down
he/she/it
Past simple
bited down
yesterday
Past participle
bited down
have + pp
-ing form
biting down
continuous
Hear "bite down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bite down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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