tɜːrn daʊn
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- turn
- Particle:
- down
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "turn down" mean?
- To reduce the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- To reject or refuse an offer, request, or invitation
- To fold something downward
Examples
- Could you turn down the music? The neighbours are complaining.
- She turned down the job offer because the salary was too low.
- I asked him out, but he turned me down.
- Turn down the heat on the stove so the food doesn't burn.
- The hotel maid turned down the bed for the night.
How to use it
Very common for both adjusting settings and refusing offers. 'Turn someone down' means to reject their romantic advances or requests.
Word order
Object can go between: 'turn the offer down' or after: 'turn down the offer'. Pronouns must go between: 'turn it down'.
Similar expressions
reduce
lower
reject
decline
refuse
Opposites
turn up
increase
accept
Related phrasal verbs
- turn on
To start a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- turn off
To stop a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- turn out
To have a particular result or end in a certain way
- turn up
To increase the volume, heat, or intensity of something
- turn into
To change or transform into something different
- turn around
To rotate to face the opposite direction
Use it in a practice answer
Try "turn down" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.