Phrase guide

turn down

verb · 8 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 refuse, decline, or deny.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He turned down all our offers of help.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: take up

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reduce the power, etc. of something by means of a control, such as the volume, heat, or light.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Turn down the television so I can hear myself think.
  • When it starts to boil, turn down the heat to a simmer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To reposition by turning, flipping, etc. in a downward direction; to double or fold down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Turn down the blankets to let them air out.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

make lower or quieter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • turn down the volume of a radio

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lower, lour

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decrease, lessen, minify

5

verb

Meaning 5

take a downward direction

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The economy finally turned down after a long boom

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: worsen, decline

6

verb

Meaning 6

reject with contempt

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She spurned his advances

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reject, spurn, freeze off, scorn, pooh-pooh, disdain

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: refuse, decline

Narrower terms: rebuff, snub, repel

7

verb

Meaning 7

refuse to accept

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He refused my offer of hospitality

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: refuse, reject, pass up, decline

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: dishonor, dishonour, bounce

8

verb

Meaning 8

refuse entrance or membership

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • They turned away hundreds of fans
  • Black people were often rejected by country clubs

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: reject, turn away, refuse

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

91 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: մերժել (meržel) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Bulgarian: отказвам (otkazvam) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Bulgarian: отхвърлям (othvǎrljam) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Catalan: rebutjar — refuse, decline, deny
  • Catalan: refusar — refuse, decline, deny
  • Chinese Mandarin: 拒絕 /拒绝 (jùjué) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Chinese Mandarin: 回絕 /回绝 (huíjué) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Finnish: torjua — refuse, decline, deny
  • French: refuser — refuse, decline, deny
  • French: décliner — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: ablehnen — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: absagen — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: abweisen — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: zurückweisen — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: verweigern — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: sich verweigern — refuse, decline, deny
  • German: jemandem einen Korb geben — refuse, decline, deny
  • Hebrew: סירב (serév) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Hungarian: elutasít — refuse, decline, deny
  • Hungarian: visszautasít — refuse, decline, deny
  • Italian: rifiutare — refuse, decline, deny
  • Japanese: 断る (kotowaru) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Latin: negō — refuse, decline, deny
  • Latin: abnegō — refuse, decline, deny
  • Polish: odrzucać — refuse, decline, deny
  • Polish: odrzucić — refuse, decline, deny
  • Portuguese: recusar — refuse, decline, deny
  • Portuguese: rejeitar — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отверга́ть (otvergátʹ) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отве́ргнуть (otvérgnutʹ) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отклоня́ть (otklonjátʹ) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отклони́ть (otklonítʹ) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отка́зываться (otkázyvatʹsja) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Russian: отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Scottish Gaelic: diùlt — refuse, decline, deny
  • Spanish: rechazar — refuse, decline, deny
  • Swedish: säga nej till — refuse, decline, deny
  • Swedish: förkasta — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відхиля́ти (vidxyljáty) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відхили́ти (vidxylýty) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відмовля́тися (vidmovljátysja) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відмо́вити (vidmóvyty) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відкида́ти (vidkydáty) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Ukrainian: відки́нути (vidkýnuty) — refuse, decline, deny
  • Arabic: نْقص (nqəṣ) — reduce amount
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܡܲܟܸܦ (mākip) — reduce amount
  • Bulgarian: намалявам (namaljavam) — reduce amount
  • Catalan: abaixar — reduce amount
  • Catalan: disminuir — reduce amount
  • Catalan: reduir — reduce amount
  • Chinese Mandarin: 減少 /减少 (jiǎnshǎo) — reduce amount
  • Finnish: hiljentää — reduce amount
  • Finnish: alentaa — reduce amount
  • Finnish: himmentää — reduce amount
  • Finnish: vähentää — reduce amount
  • French: baisser — reduce amount
  • German: reduzieren — reduce amount
  • German: herunterdrehen — reduce amount
  • German: herunterregeln — reduce amount
  • German: niedriger stellen — reduce amount
  • German: verringern — reduce amount
  • German: herunter stellen — reduce amount
  • German: vermindern — reduce amount
  • Hungarian: lehalkít — reduce amount
  • Hungarian: lejjebb vesz/kapcsol/csavar/teker — reduce amount
  • Hungarian: lecsavar — reduce amount
  • Hungarian: tompít — reduce amount
  • Hungarian: csökkent — reduce amount
  • Irish: ísligh — reduce amount
  • Italian: abbassare — reduce amount
  • Polish: ściszać — reduce amount
  • Polish: ściszyć — reduce amount
  • Portuguese: abaixar — reduce amount
  • Portuguese: diminuir — reduce amount
  • Portuguese: reduzir — reduce amount
  • Russian: убавля́ть (ubavljátʹ) — reduce amount
  • Russian: уба́вить (ubávitʹ) — reduce amount
  • Russian: уменьша́ть (umenʹšátʹ) — reduce amount
  • Russian: уме́ньшить (uménʹšitʹ) — reduce amount
  • Serbo-Croatian: smanjiti — reduce amount
  • Serbo-Croatian: smanjivati — reduce amount
  • Spanish: disminuir — reduce amount
  • Spanish: reducir — reduce amount
  • Swedish: sänka — reduce amount
  • Swedish: dämpa — reduce amount
  • Ukrainian: зме́ншувати (zménšuvaty) — reduce amount
  • Ukrainian: зме́ншити (zménšyty) — reduce amount
  • Uzbek: pasaytirmoq — reduce amount
  • Walloon: baxhî — reduce amount
  • Walloon: rastrinde — reduce amount
  • Walloon: ravaler — reduce amount