What are the definitions of “weigh down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1To make someone feel burdened or heavy.
Duplicates of applications and identification papers weigh down my hands.
- 2To burden or make someone feel heavy or tired.
If you weigh yourself down you’ll get very tired.
- 3To burden or make someone feel heavy or overwhelmed.
The waiters were weighed down by huge trays of food.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “weigh down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb weigh down is to make someone or something feel burdened, heavy, or overwhelmed. It can be used to describe physical weight, such as carrying a heavy load, or emotional weight, like feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities.
What are the different verb forms of “weigh down”?
| Root Verb | weigh down |
| Third Person Singular Present | weighs down |
| Present Participle | weighing down |
| Simple Past | weighed down |
| Past Participle | weighed down |
Example
The heavy backpack weighs down the hiker.
Example
The responsibility weighs her down every day.
Example
The stress is weighing him down and affecting his health.
Example
The heavy snow weighed down the tree branches.
Example
She felt weighed down by her many tasks.
What kind of phrasal verb is “weigh 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
“weigh 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 heavy load weighed down the truck.
Example
Her worries weighed her down.
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
“weigh 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 heavy load weighed down the truck.
Example
Her worries weighed her down.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “weigh down”?
Good things to know
Does “weigh down” have an informal or formal tone?
Weigh down is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal writing or presentations.
