What are the definitions of “get down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Make someone depressed, unhappy, exhausted, etc..
The miserable weather in winter really GETS me DOWN.
- 2Write, record.
I couldn't GET DOWN everything he said.
- 3Manage to swallow.
The medicine tasted horrible and it was difficult to GET it DOWN.
- 4Descend, leave a vehicle.
The trained pulled in and we GOT DOWN.
- 5Leave the table after eating.
When they had finished dinner, the children asked if they could GET DOWN.
- 6Reduce.
The doctor says I my GET my cholesterol levels DOWN.
- 7Have an affair or sexual relations.
They GOT DOWN at the party last week.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “get down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb get down is to descend or leave a place, such as getting off a vehicle or coming down from a higher position. For example, it can mean getting off a bus, leaving a building, or coming down from a ladder.
What are the different verb forms of “get down”?
| Root Verb | get down |
| Third Person Singular Present | gets down |
| Present Participle | getting down |
| Simple Past | got down |
| Past Participle | gotten down |
Example
She needs to get down from the tree before she falls.
Example
He gets down from the ladder carefully.
Example
The cat is getting down from the roof.
Example
Yesterday, they got down from the mountain before sunset.
Example
The package has gotten down from the shelf.
What kind of phrasal verb is “get down”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“get down” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The bad weather gets me down.
Example
She got the box down from the top shelf.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“get down” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The bad weather gets me down.
Example
She got the box down from the top shelf.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “get down”?
Good things to know
Does “get down” have an informal or formal tone?
Get down is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in everyday conversations and casual contexts. In more formal settings, it is better to use alternative phrases, such as 'descend,' 'leave,' or 'reduce,' depending on the specific context.
