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

I was born and raised here, moved to New York and eventually came home, where I put down roots with my then-girlfriend, now wife.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

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

Living in New York City, high rent prices make it difficult to find space for a growing family, which is why we’re eager to put down roots.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 31, 2026

Most of the people in the U.S. illegally have been here for decades and have put down roots.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026

Who taught me how to put down roots, and thrive on both sun and rain, and understand what it is to bloom.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk

Related Words

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