Phrase guide

count down

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Alternative form of countdown.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To announce the passage of time to a precisely timed expected event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The sound system counted down the seconds to meteor impact.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To await a precisely timed expected event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The party was counting down the days to Inauguration.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

count backwards; before detonating a bomb, for example

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: count

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 倒讀數 /倒读数 (dàodúshù) — announce the passage of time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 倒計時 /倒计时 (dàojìshí) — announce the passage of time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 倒數 /倒数 (dàoshǔ) — announce the passage of time
  • Esperanto: dekalkuli — announce the passage of time
  • Finnish: laskea — announce the passage of time
  • French: décompter — announce the passage of time
  • German: herunterzählen — announce the passage of time
  • Hungarian: visszaszámlál — announce the passage of time
  • Hungarian: visszaszámol — announce the passage of time
  • Japanese: 秒読みする (byōyomi suru) — announce the passage of time
  • Macedonian: одбројува (odbrojuva) — announce the passage of time
  • Polish: odliczać — announce the passage of time
  • Polish: odliczyć — announce the passage of time
  • Portuguese: fazer contagem regressiva (a) — announce the passage of time
  • Chinese Mandarin: 盼望 (pànwàng) — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Chinese Mandarin: 盼著 — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Chinese Mandarin: 盼着 (pànzhe) — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Finnish: laskea — await a precisely timed expected event
  • French: décompter — await a precisely timed expected event
  • German: zählen — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Macedonian: одбројува (odbrojuva) — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Polish: odliczać — await a precisely timed expected event
  • Portuguese: contar os dias — await a precisely timed expected event