Phrase guide

write down

verb · 7 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

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see write, down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I can't write down in the basement; it's cold there and my fingers cramp and get stiff.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To produce or set (something) down in writing; to record something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: write up, record, transcribe, document, log, inscripturate

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To write (something) in a simple or condescending style.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: devalue

Antonyms: write up

5

verb

Meaning 5

To condemn in writing; to document the faults, offenses, or wrongdoing of.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • See also: cite

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: write up

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

reduce the estimated value of something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • For tax purposes you can write off the laser printer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expense, write off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: depreciate

7

verb

Meaning 7

put down in writing; of texts, musical compositions, etc.

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: set down, get down, put down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: write

Narrower terms: transcribe, notate, dash down, dash off, note, take down

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

60 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: запі́сваць (zapísvacʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Belarusian: запіса́ць (zapisácʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Bulgarian: запи́свам (zapísvam) — to set something down in writing
  • Bulgarian: запи́ша (zapíša) — to set something down in writing
  • Chinese Mandarin: 寫下來 /写下来 (xiě xiàlai) — to set something down in writing
  • Chinese Mandarin: 寫下 /写下 (xiěxià) — to set something down in writing
  • Dutch: opschrijven — to set something down in writing
  • Dutch: neerschrijven — to set something down in writing
  • Dutch: noteren — to set something down in writing
  • Esperanto: noti — to set something down in writing
  • Finnish: kirjoittaa ylös — to set something down in writing
  • Finnish: kirjoittaa muistiin — to set something down in writing
  • Finnish: merkitä muistiin — to set something down in writing
  • French: noter — to set something down in writing
  • French: écrire — to set something down in writing
  • German: aufschreiben — to set something down in writing
  • German: uufschriibe — to set something down in writing
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌼𐌴𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (anamēljan) — to set something down in writing
  • Hebrew: רָשַׁם (rashám) — to set something down in writing
  • Hungarian: leír — to set something down in writing
  • Italian: sottoscrivere — to set something down in writing
  • Italian: annotare — to set something down in writing
  • Japanese: 書き留める (kakitomeru) — to set something down in writing
  • Japanese: 記す (shirusu) — to set something down in writing
  • Kalmyk: бичҗ авх (biçj avx) — to set something down in writing
  • Korean: 적다 (jeokda) — to set something down in writing
  • Korean: 적어 두다 (jeogeo duda) — to set something down in writing
  • Korean: 적어 놓다 (jeogeo nota) — to set something down in writing
  • Norwegian: skrive ned — to set something down in writing
  • Polish: zapisywać — to set something down in writing
  • Polish: zapisać — to set something down in writing
  • Portuguese: anotar — to set something down in writing
  • Romanian: scrie — to set something down in writing
  • Romanian: nota — to set something down in writing
  • Russian: запи́сывать (zapísyvatʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Russian: записа́ть (zapisátʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Russian: регистри́ровать (registrírovatʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Russian: зарегистри́ровать (zaregistrírovatʹ) — to set something down in writing
  • Spanish: apuntar — to set something down in writing
  • Spanish: anotar — to set something down in writing
  • Spanish: redactar — to set something down in writing
  • Swedish: anteckna — to set something down in writing
  • Swedish: skriva ned — to set something down in writing
  • Swedish: skriva ner — to set something down in writing
  • Ukrainian: запи́сувати (zapýsuvaty) — to set something down in writing
  • Ukrainian: записа́ти (zapysáty) — to set something down in writing
  • Vietnamese: viết ra — to set something down in writing
  • Vietnamese: ghi xuống — to set something down in writing
  • Yiddish: פֿאַרצייכענען (fartseykhenen) — to set something down in writing
  • Danish: afskrive — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Finnish: alaskirjata — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • German: abschreiben — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Japanese: 値引きする (nebiki suru) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Polish: odpisywać — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Polish: odpisać — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Russian: понижа́ть це́ну/сто́имость (ponižátʹ cénu/stóimostʹ) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Russian: пони́зить це́ну/сто́имость (ponízitʹ cénu/stóimostʹ) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Russian: уце́нивать (ucénivatʹ) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Russian: уценя́ть (ucenjátʹ) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset
  • Russian: уцени́ть (ucenítʹ) — to make a downward adjustment in the value of an asset