turn down

British  

verb

1. to reduce (the volume or brightness) of (something)

   turn the radio down

2. to reject or refuse

3. to fold down (a collar, sheets on a bed, etc)

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adjective

1. (prenominal) capable of being or designed to be folded or doubled down

turn down Idioms  

1. Fold or double down, as in They always turn down your bed here , or Turn down your collar . [c. 1600]

2. Invert, as in She turned down her cards , or They turn down the glasses in the cupboard . [Mid-1700s]

3. Reject, fail to accept, as in They turned down his proposal , or Joe was turned down at four schools before he was finally accepted . [Late 1800s]

4. Diminish in volume, brightness, or speed. For example, Please turn down the radio; it's too loud , or They turned down the lights and began to dance . [Second half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

In that case, the physician’s duty is clear: Turn down the money and tell the patient no.

From Slate • Aug. 20, 2024

Turn down the temperature with the Department of Justice, Kise — a former Florida solicitor general — counseled his famously combative client, people familiar with the deliberations said.

From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2022

“Turn up the music / Turn down the lights / I’ve got a feeling / I’m gon’ be all right / OK, all right, it’s about damn time,” she sings along to bouncy choreography.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2022

Turn down the heat, cover with a lid and cook until soft, turning now and again.

From The Guardian • Apr. 15, 2020

Turn down the next road on your left.

From The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly by Lever, Charles James

Related Words

• dismiss
• rebuff
• refuse
• spurn