Phrase guide

weigh down

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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To act as a ballast for.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • We used some sandbags to weigh down the balloon.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To be too much for someone to cope with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • All the news of murder and famine is weighing me down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

exert a force with a heavy weight

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The snow bore down on the roof

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: drag down, bear down, bear down on, press down on

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: press

4

verb

Meaning 4

be oppressive or disheartening to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: weigh on

Antonyms: lighten

Broader terms: sadden

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: painaa — to act as ballast
  • Finnish: olla painolastina — to act as ballast
  • French: alourdir — to act as ballast
  • Ancient Greek: καταβαρύνω (katabarúnō) — to act as ballast
  • Latin: dēgravō — to act as ballast
  • Māori: pōria — to act as ballast
  • Māori: tao — to act as ballast
  • Polish: obciążać — to act as ballast
  • Romanian: împovăra — to act as ballast
  • Romanian: copleși — to act as ballast
  • Romanian: îngreuna — to act as ballast
  • Spanish: lastrar — to act as ballast
  • Welsh: pwyso i lawr — to act as ballast
  • Finnish: painaa liikaa — to be too much to handle
  • Ancient Greek: καταβαρύνω (katabarúnō) — to be too much to handle
  • Latin: dēgravō — to be too much to handle
  • Polish: przytłaczać — to be too much to handle
  • Welsh: pwyso i lawr — to be too much to handle