1 A2 neutral
To move to a lower position or level physically.
"The sun goes down around eight o'clock in summer."
“
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down.
— Ecclesiastes 1:5, The Bible (King James Version)
inseparable
go down
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To move to a lower position, decrease in level or value, or to be received in a particular way.
In plain English
To fall, get lower, or to happen and be reacted to by people.
What does "go down" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To decrease in price, amount, or level.
"House prices have gone down significantly since last year."
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To be received or reacted to in a particular way by an audience or group.
"Her joke went down really well with the audience."
inseparable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral
(Of a computer, website, or system) to stop working.
"The whole server went down during the busy period."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To move in a downward direction — the physical sense is the root of all extended meanings.
Actually means
To fall, get lower, or to happen and be reacted to by people.
Usage tip
Extremely common and versatile. Key senses include physical descent, falling prices or levels, a computer or system failing, food or drink being swallowed, and a speech or action being received by an audience. 'Go down well/badly' is a very common collocation. Also has a vulgar slang sense (see 'go down on').
Words that pair with "go down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
prices temperature sun history well badly system ship
How to conjugate "go down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
go down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
goes down
he/she/it
Past simple
went down
yesterday
Past participle
gone down
have + pp
-ing form
going down
continuous
Hear "go down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "go down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "go down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
crash decrease descend drop fall sink
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.