put down roots

Idioms  

1. Settle somewhere, become established, as in We've put down roots here and don't want to move away. This metaphoric expression, first recorded in 1921, likens the rooting of a plant to human settlement.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

put down roots

They lost an entire decade’s worth of sacrifices they’d made to put down roots in their hometown, and the community they’d created.

From Slate ● Jun. 30, 2026

Eventually, many travelers yearn to put down roots again.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

A sharper picture of mobility can be gleaned from those like the McIntires, who have put down roots and changed their addresses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026

Instead, the family put down roots in Padthaway in South Australia, where Clarke would spend the rest of his childhood alongside his three younger siblings: Jodie, Aaron, and Angie.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2025

“Yeah. Kind of embarrassing. Anyway, that’s how a Roman legion got to China. The Romans eventually put down roots and built a new hometown called—” “Li-Jien,” Frank said.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• continue
• delay
• hang
• last
• linger
• remain
• reside
• settle
• stand
• stick around
• stop