1 A2 neutral
To move or travel at a reduced speed
"Slow down — there's a speed camera around this corner."
inseparable
slow down
A2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To reduce speed or pace, or to become less busy or active
In plain English
To go more slowly, or to do things at a slower and more relaxed pace
What does "slow down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To cause something to move or progress at a lower rate
"The roadworks on the bypass have slowed traffic down considerably."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
To reduce the pace of one's life or activity, often for health or wellbeing reasons
"The doctor told him to slow down or risk burning out completely."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To reduce one's speed in a downward direction
Actually means
To go more slowly, or to do things at a slower and more relaxed pace
Usage tip
One of the most common phrasal verbs in English. Used for physical movement, work pace, and as advice to people living stressfully. Both transitive and intransitive. The transitive form ('slow the car down') is common.
Words that pair with "slow down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
car pace production growth traffic economy
How to conjugate "slow down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slow down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slows down
he/she/it
Past simple
slowed down
yesterday
Past participle
slowed down
have + pp
-ing form
slowing down
continuous
Hear "slow down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "slow down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "slow down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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