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turn down

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To make something quieter or cooler, or to say no to something offered to you.

Literal meaning: To physically rotate a dial or lever in a downward direction.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To reduce the level, volume, temperature, or intensity of something by adjusting a control.

"Could you turn down the music? I'm trying to sleep."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

To refuse or reject an offer, invitation, request, or person.

"She turned down the job offer because the salary was too low."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 neutral

To fold the top part of bedcovers, a collar, or page downward.

"She turned down the corner of the page to mark where she had stopped reading."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Two core meanings: (1) adjusting a dial/control downward, (2) rejecting an offer or person. Both are extremely common in everyday English. In job interviews and dating contexts, 'being turned down' is the standard way to express rejection.

Commonly used with

offer invitation volume heat request job

Forms

Base
turn down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
turns down
he/she/it
Past simple
turned down
yesterday
Past participle
turned down
have + pp
-ing form
turning down
continuous

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Synonyms

decline lower rebuff reduce refuse reject

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