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take down

B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

Remove something from where it's hanging; knock down a building; write notes; or beat someone

Literal meaning: To take something down from a higher position — mostly transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To remove something from a wall, shelf, or elevated position and lower it

"Can you take down those old photos from the wall? We're repainting tomorrow."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral

To dismantle a temporary structure such as a tent, scaffold, or stage

"The crew began taking down the stage as soon as the concert ended."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 neutral

To write or record information, especially notes from speech

"The officer asked me to spell my name slowly while he took it down."

Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic informal

(Informal) To overpower, defeat, or remove someone from a position of power

"The documentary was designed to take down the corrupt senator."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common and versatile. The note-taking sense is common in academic and professional settings. The 'remove from wall' sense is everyday. The 'dismantle' sense is used for tents, scaffolding, and temporary structures. The 'defeat' sense is informal.

Commonly used with

notes tent poster structure opponent website

Forms

Base
take down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
takes down
he/she/it
Past simple
took down
yesterday
Past participle
taken down
have + pp
-ing form
taking down
continuous

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