burn down
phrasal verb
burned down or burnt down; burning down; burns down
1
of a building or other structure
: to be destroyed by fire
The hotel burned down in 1922.
2
of a fire
: to become smaller : to gradually produce less and less flame
We watched the fire as it slowly burned down.
3
: to destroy (something) by fire
Vandals burned down the school.
burned it down
Examples of burn down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Masses of homeless families dodging gang members who burned down their houses and killed their neighbors have taken over dozens of schools, churches and even government buildings.
—
Frances Robles, New York Times, 8 May 2024
The 2023 disaster burned down more than 2,500 acres and displaced thousands of individuals.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 May 2024
Since Miami-Dade’s main waste incinerator burned down in Doral last year, tons of excess garbage have been shipped off via train to other counties, landfills are filling up and the difficult decision of where to build a new one still looms.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
Kansas City’s year-old Convention Hall burned down just three months before it was supposed to host the Democratic National Convention.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024
Since early March, armed gangs have taken over the country, burning down police stations and closing down the airport and the capital, Port-au-Prince.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 2 May 2024
Across Port-au-Prince, armed groups are looting businesses and burning down houses.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, Craft Cannabis was hit again on Sunday morning, with part of its sign partially burned down.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Trump has burned down and rebuilt the Republican National Committee, gutting the leadership and much of the staff.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Frances Robles, New York Times, 8 May 2024
The 2023 disaster burned down more than 2,500 acres and displaced thousands of individuals.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 7 May 2024
Since Miami-Dade’s main waste incinerator burned down in Doral last year, tons of excess garbage have been shipped off via train to other counties, landfills are filling up and the difficult decision of where to build a new one still looms.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
Kansas City’s year-old Convention Hall burned down just three months before it was supposed to host the Democratic National Convention.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2024
Since early March, armed gangs have taken over the country, burning down police stations and closing down the airport and the capital, Port-au-Prince.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 2 May 2024
Across Port-au-Prince, armed groups are looting businesses and burning down houses.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Unfortunately, Craft Cannabis was hit again on Sunday morning, with part of its sign partially burned down.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
Trump has burned down and rebuilt the Republican National Committee, gutting the leadership and much of the staff.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'burn down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near burn down
Cite this Entry
“Burn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burn%20down. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share