takedown

American  

[teyk-doun] / ˈteɪkˌdaʊn /

Or take-down

adjective

1. made or constructed so as to be easily dismantled or disassembled.

2. Finance. takeout.

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noun

1. the act of taking down.

2. a firearm designed to be swiftly disassembled or assembled.

3. the point of separation of two or more of the parts of a takedown firearm or other device.

4. Informal. the act of being humbled.

5. Wrestling. a move or series of maneuvers that succeeds in bringing a standing opponent down onto the mat.

6. Finance. takeout.

Etymology

Origin of takedown

First recorded in 1890–95; adj., noun use of verb phrase take down

Example Sentences

Gen. Rob Bonta last week announced arrests in a $267-million hospice takedown.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Judge Richard Leon issued his legal takedown late last week, and it deserves more attention as a defense of free speech.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

The takedown earned praise from Joe Rogan, who voted for Trump and called Dillon the “greatest ranter that has ever lived.”

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2026

The latest release accelerated the public takedown of several powerful figures named in the files, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles in October following intense scrutiny of his links to Epstein.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

The public takedown she’d executed on him, if anything, would embolden Toby—make him like her more.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

Related Words

• appraisal
• assessment
• comment
• commentary
• criticism
• editorial
• examination
• judgment