Phrase guide

vote down

verb · 3 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 defeat (some measure or candidate) by a majority vote.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • His wife voted down the project the moment he suggested it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

vote against

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The faculty turned thumbs down on the candidate for the Dean position

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn thumbs down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: vote

3

verb

Meaning 3

thwart the passage of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • kill a motion
  • he shot down the student's proposal

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: kill, shoot down, defeat, vote out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: veto, blackball, negative

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 否決 /否决 (fǒujué) — defeat by a majority vote
  • Slovene: preglasovati — defeat by a majority vote