1 C1 neutral
To press loose material firmly downward so it becomes compact.
"He tamped down the earth around the newly planted tree."
separable
tamp down
C1 neutral separable transitive
To reduce, suppress, or press something down firmly, either physically or figuratively.
In plain English
To push something down hard to make it smaller or less powerful.
What does "tamp down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
To reduce or suppress a feeling, reaction, or situation in order to keep it under control.
"The government tried to tamp down growing public anger over the new tax policy."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To press (tamp) something downward with force to compact it.
Actually means
To push something down hard to make it smaller or less powerful.
Usage tip
Literally refers to pressing down loose material (e.g., soil, tobacco in a pipe, explosive material). Figuratively used to describe suppressing emotions, public reaction, or political opposition. Common in journalism and political commentary. Primarily AmE.
Words that pair with "tamp down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fears concerns expectations enthusiasm inflation emotions soil
How to conjugate "tamp down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tamp down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
tamps down
he/she/it
Past simple
tamped down
yesterday
Past participle
tamped down
have + pp
-ing form
tamping down
continuous
Hear "tamp down" in the wild
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