1 B1 neutral
To make a surface smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper, removing roughness or old coatings.
"You need to sand down the door before you paint it, otherwise the paint won't stick."
separable
sand down
B1 neutral separable transitive
To make a surface smooth by rubbing it with sandpaper or a sanding tool.
In plain English
To rub sandpaper on something to make it smooth.
What does "sand down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To reduce the size or thickness of something slightly by sanding.
"The drawer was sticking, so he sanded down the sides until it slid smoothly."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To sand (rub with sandpaper) something down to a smooth state — transparent.
Actually means
To rub sandpaper on something to make it smooth.
Usage tip
Common in DIY, woodworking, and carpentry contexts. Used in British and American English. The object is usually a wooden surface, though it can apply to other materials.
Words that pair with "sand down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wood surface floor furniture door edge
How to conjugate "sand down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sand down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sands down
he/she/it
Past simple
sanded down
yesterday
Past participle
sanded down
have + pp
-ing form
sanding down
continuous
Hear "sand down" in the wild
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