come down
Idioms-
Lose wealth or position, as in After the market crashed, the Tates really came down in the world . A 1382 translation of the Bible by followers of John Wycliffe had this term: “Come down from glory, sit in thirst” (Jeremiah 48:18).
-
Become reduced in size or amount, be lowered, as in Interest rates will have to come down before the economy recovers . [Mid-1600s]
-
Be handed down by inheritance, tradition, or a higher authority. For example, This painting has come down to us from our great-grandparents , or These stories have come down through the generations , or An indictment finally came down . [c. 1400]
-
Also, go down . Happen, occur, as in What's coming down tonight? [ Slang ; 1960s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Investors remain on edge, even after recent data suggested inflation was easing, the jobs market was softening and oil prices have come down.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
As the scaffolding has come down, he says the visitors have returned.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The man, Lantz said, had threatened to jump at one point and officials at the scene were trying to get him to come down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
They took out mortgages at higher rates than they wanted, assuming that rates would come down in the following months or years.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Would Baba and his companions come down to the creek?
From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.