1 B1 neutral
To press something firmly so it lies flat against a surface.
"Flatten down the pastry before adding the filling."
separable
flatten down
B2 neutral separable transitive
To press or push something so that it becomes flat and stays down.
In plain English
To push something hard so it goes completely flat and doesn't stick up.
What does "flatten down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To cause something that is raised or unruly to lie flat.
"He tried to flatten down his hair before the interview but it kept springing back up."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make flat by applying downward force — transparent and non-idiomatic.
Actually means
To push something hard so it goes completely flat and doesn't stick up.
Usage tip
Used in practical, everyday contexts such as cooking, crafts, and gardening. Less common than 'flatten out' and tends to emphasize downward pressure.
Words that pair with "flatten down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hair dough grass cardboard soil wrinkles
How to conjugate "flatten down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
flatten down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
flattens down
he/she/it
Past simple
flattened down
yesterday
Past participle
flattened down
have + pp
-ing form
flattening down
continuous
Hear "flatten down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "flatten down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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