1 B1 neutral
To reduce the price of goods, especially for a sale.
"All winter coats have been marked down by 40% this week."
separable
mark down
B1 neutral separable transitive
To reduce the price of something; to give a lower grade or score; or to write something down as a note.
In plain English
Lower the price of something; give someone a lower mark; write something down.
What does "mark down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To give a student or piece of work a lower grade due to mistakes or poor quality.
"She was marked down for not citing her sources correctly."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To write something down as a record or note.
"Mark down the time and date so we don't forget."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make a mark that goes downward — implies lowering or recording.
Actually means
Lower the price of something; give someone a lower mark; write something down.
Usage tip
In retail, 'marked down' items are sold at a discount. In academic contexts, students are 'marked down' for errors. The 'write down' sense is slightly older but still current.
Words that pair with "mark down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
price goods stock essay student errors
How to conjugate "mark down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
mark down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
marks down
he/she/it
Past simple
marked down
yesterday
Past participle
marked down
have + pp
-ing form
marking down
continuous
Hear "mark down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "mark down"
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Keep exploring
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