1 B2 neutral
to flatten or crush something by walking or stepping on it repeatedly
"Please don't tread the flowers down near the gate."
separable
tread down
B2 neutral separable transitive
to flatten, crush, or press something down by stepping on it
In plain English
press something down with your feet
What does "tread down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
to suppress or oppress something in a forceful way
"The regime tried to tread dissent down for years."
separable
Usage tip
Used for grass, plants, paths, and occasionally figurative oppression in literary style.
Words that pair with "tread down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
grass plants path snow weeds ground
How to conjugate "tread down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
tread down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
treads down
he/she/it
Past simple
treaded down
yesterday
Past participle
treaded down
have + pp
-ing form
treading down
continuous
Hear "tread down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "tread down"
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