ˈsetl daʊn
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- settle
- Particle:
- down
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "settle down" mean?
- To become calm and quiet
- To start living a stable life, often with marriage
- To begin to focus on something
Examples
- Settle down, children! Class is starting.
- He finally settled down and got married at 35.
- She settled down in the armchair with a book.
- It took a few months to settle down in the new job.
- When are you going to settle down?
How to use it
'When are you going to settle down?' is a common question about marriage/family. Can feel intrusive.
Word order
Usually intransitive. Can be transitive: 'Settle the kids down'.
Similar expressions
calm down
relax
establish
stabilize
Opposites
act up
move around
wander
Related phrasal verbs
- settle for
To accept something that is not exactly what you wanted
- settle in
To become comfortable in a new place or situation
- settle up
To pay what you owe; to resolve a financial matter
- turn down
To reduce the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- bring down
To cause something to fall or collapse
- go down
To decrease in price, level, or amount
Use it in a practice answer
Try "settle down" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.