1 A2 neutral
to move from a higher place to a lower one
"She came down the stairs quietly."
“
Come down, O maid, from yonder mountain height.
— Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Come Down, O Maid"
inseparable
come down
A2 neutral intransitive intransitive
to move downward, decrease, or lose intensity
In plain English
to go lower or become less
What does "come down" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
to decrease in level, amount, or intensity
"Gas prices have finally come down a little."
“
What goes up must come down.
— Popular proverb; also title of songs and books
inseparable
3 B1 neutral
to collapse or be destroyed
"The old shed came down in the storm."
inseparable
4 C1 idiomatic informal
to return to normal after the effects of drugs or strong excitement
"He needed a quiet room to come down after the party."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move from a higher place to a lower one
Actually means
to go lower or become less
Usage tip
A very flexible phrasal verb. Common with prices, temperatures, buildings, and also with drug effects in informal English.
Words that pair with "come down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stairs price temperature rain wall high
How to conjugate "come down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
come down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes down
he/she/it
Past simple
came down
yesterday
Past participle
come down
have + pp
-ing form
coming down
continuous
Hear "come down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "come down"
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