GET DOWN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does get down mean? 

• GET DOWN (verb)
  The verb GET DOWN has 7 senses:

1. lower (one's body) as by kneeling

2. move something or somebody to a lower position

3. alight from (a horse)

4. pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

5. lower someone's spirits; make downhearted

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

7. take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

  Familiarity information: GET DOWN used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GET DOWN (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lower (one's body) as by kneeling

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

Get down on your knees!

Hypernyms (to "get down" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move something or somebody to a lower position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

bring down; get down; let down; lower; take down

Context example:

take down the vase from the shelf

Hypernyms (to "get down" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get down"):

reef (lower and bring partially inboard)

depress (lower (prices or markets))

dip (lower briefly)

incline (lower or bend (the head or upper body), as in a nod or bow)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Alight from (a horse)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

dismount; get down; get off; light; unhorse

Hypernyms (to "get down" is one way to...):

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Domain category:

horseback riding; riding (travel by being carried on horseback)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 4

Meaning:

Pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

get down; swallow

Context example:

Swallow the raw fish--it won't kill you!

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get down"):

bolt (swallow hastily)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Lower someone's spirits; make downhearted

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

cast down; deject; demoralise; demoralize; depress; dismay; dispirit; get down

Context example:

The bad state of her child's health demoralizes her

Hypernyms (to "get down" is one way to...):

discourage (deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get down"):

chill (depress or discourage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to get down Sue

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

get down; put down; set down; write down

Hypernyms (to "get down" is one way to...):

write (communicate or express by writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get down"):

transcribe (write out from speech, notes, etc.)

notate (put into notation, as of music or choreography)

dash down; dash off (write down hastily)

note; take down (make a written note of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 7

Meaning:

Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

begin; commence; get; get down; set about; set out; start; start out

Context example:

Let's get down to work now

Verb group:

begin (begin to speak, understand, read, and write a language)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "get down"):

strike out (set out on a course of action)

bestir oneself; get cracking; get going; get moving; get rolling; get started; get weaving (start to be active)

embark; enter (set out on (an enterprise or subject of study))

come on (occur or become available)

launch; plunge (begin with vigor)

break in (start in a certain activity, enterprise, or role)

attack (set to work upon; turn one's energies vigorously to a task)

auspicate (commence in a manner calculated to bring good luck)

get to (arrive at the point of)

jump off (set off quickly, usually with success)

fall (begin vigorously)

recommence (begin again)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

 Context examples 

‘You will get down here, Mr. Melas,’ said my companion. ‘I am sorry to leave you so far from your house, but there is no alternative.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Walter," said she, "get down this moment. You are extremely troublesome. I am very angry with you."

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

You’ll get down out of that rigging, and damn lively about it! D’ye hear? Get down!

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He leaned forward, feeling that he ought to get down on his knees before so marvellous a mind.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

"Can't you get down?" asked Dorothy.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Reach: are you able to reach and get down a 5 pound object (such as a bag of sugar) from just above your head?

(HAQ-DI - Able to Reach and Get Down Object From Above Head, NCI Thesaurus)

She said: I will willingly go away with you, but I do not know how to get down.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I wished to get down and walk up them, as we do at home, but the driver would not hear of it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Now, let us get down to business.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

How we are to get down from this place I have not as yet an idea.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)