1 A2 neutral
To quickly lower the head or whole body to avoid something flying through the air, such as a ball or projectile.
"She ducked down just in time as the ball flew past her head."
inseparable
duck down
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To lower your body or head quickly, usually to avoid being seen or hit.
In plain English
To quickly bend down so something doesn't hit you or so nobody can see you.
What does "duck down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To lower your body quickly to avoid being seen by someone.
"He spotted his boss coming and ducked down behind the cubicle wall."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move downward like a duck lowering its head — the action is transparent.
Actually means
To quickly bend down so something doesn't hit you or so nobody can see you.
Usage tip
Used to describe a fast, instinctive physical reaction. Very common in action, military, or everyday contexts. The verb 'duck' alone is also widely used; 'down' emphasizes the direction and completeness of the movement.
Words that pair with "duck down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
quickly suddenly low bullet shot cover
How to conjugate "duck down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
duck down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ducks down
he/she/it
Past simple
ducked down
yesterday
Past participle
ducked down
have + pp
-ing form
ducking down
continuous
Hear "duck down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "duck down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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