1 C1 formal
(Legal, chiefly US) To negotiate with a prosecutor to have a serious charge reduced to a lesser one.
"His lawyer managed to plead the felony charge down to a misdemeanor."
separable
plead down
C1 formal separable transitive
To negotiate a reduction in a criminal charge to a lesser offense, typically through a plea bargain.
In plain English
To get a serious crime charge changed to a less serious one by making a deal with the prosecutor.
What does "plead down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To plead in a way that brings something down (i.e., reduces it).
Actually means
To get a serious crime charge changed to a less serious one by making a deal with the prosecutor.
Usage tip
Legal jargon, primarily used in American English in the context of the criminal justice system. The object is typically the charge: 'plead the charge down' or 'plead it down to a misdemeanor.'
Words that pair with "plead down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
charge felony misdemeanor count offense case
How to conjugate "plead down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plead down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pleads down
he/she/it
Past simple
pleaded down
yesterday
Past participle
pleaded down
have + pp
-ing form
pleading down
continuous
Hear "plead down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "plead down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.