Phrase guide

simmer down

verb · 2 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To decrease in intensity of anger, agitation, or excitement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • You need to simmer down and stop yelling at me.
  • It took a while for the heated debate to simmer down and for people to start listening to each other.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: calm down, cool off, settle down, relax, unwind, pacify, compose

Antonyms: simmer up

2

verb

Meaning 2

become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • After the fight both men need to cool off.
  • It took a while after the baby was born for things to settle down again.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: calm, calm down, cool off, chill out, settle down, cool it

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change state, turn

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: runterkühlen — to become less angry
  • German: abregen — to become less angry
  • German: beruhigen — to become less angry
  • Greek: κατευνάζομαι (katevnázomai) — to become less angry
  • Italian: calmarsi — to become less angry
  • Russian: ути́хнуть (utíxnutʹ) — to become less angry
  • Russian: успоко́иться (uspokóitʹsja) — to become less angry
  • Russian: осты́ть (ostýtʹ) — to become less angry
  • Russian: зати́хнуть (zatíxnutʹ) — to become less angry
  • Russian: сти́хнуть (stíxnutʹ) — to become less angry
  • Russian: рассла́биться (rasslábitʹsja) — to become less angry
  • Swedish: lugna ner sig — to become less angry