double down
Americanverb
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Cards. (in blackjack) to double an initial bet, on the condition that one can be dealt only one more card.
Will you double down and beat the dealer?
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to increase one’s efforts or hold to a position or opinion, especially when vulnerable or taking a risk.
He has continued to defend his controversial interpretation of the document, doubling down on what he sees as the truth.
Etymology
Origin of double down
First recorded in 1625–35, in another sense
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.
Increased military spending around the world and a push to double down on industrialization bodes well for South Korea’s shipbuilders, powertrain, and other industrial businesses.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Critics question the merits of Snap’s decision to double down on AR spending, as well as some of the design and pricing choices made with this latest iteration of the glasses.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026
Some fans might double down on their patriotic commitments during the tournament.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
Ramsey Suarez sliced a double down the left-field line as the ball landed less than a foot into fair territory.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Then the column proceeded at the double down the slope that led to the Étang-des-Moines.
From The Frontier by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander
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.
