1 B1 neutral
To break something open or to the ground with a powerful blow.
"The firefighters had to smash down the door to reach the people trapped inside."
separable
smash down
B1 neutral separable transitive
To destroy or force open something by hitting it very hard.
In plain English
To hit something so hard that it breaks or falls down.
What does "smash down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To knock someone to the ground with great force.
"The boxer smashed his opponent down in the third round with a powerful right hook."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To smash (break violently) something so it goes down.
Actually means
To hit something so hard that it breaks or falls down.
Usage tip
Commonly used with doors, walls, and barriers. Often appears in action contexts — police breaking down doors, fighters smashing opponents down. The object is typically something solid and physical.
Words that pair with "smash down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
door wall barrier fence gate opponent
How to conjugate "smash down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
smash down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
smashes down
he/she/it
Past simple
smashed down
yesterday
Past participle
smashed down
have + pp
-ing form
smashing down
continuous
Hear "smash down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "smash down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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