get down

verb

got down; got down or gotten down; getting down; gets down

transitive verb

1

: to manage to swallow

2

: to cause to be physically, mentally, or emotionally exhausted : depress

the weather was getting her down

3

: to commit to writing : describe

intransitive verb

1

: to alight especially from a vehicle : descend

2

: to give one's attention or consideration

—used with to

get down to business

3

a

: to perform music or dance effectively and infectiously

b

: to have a good time partying

Synonyms

• alight
• descend
• disembark
• dismount
• light

Examples of get down in a Sentence

I was getting down from the seaplane when a gust of wind swept away my hat.

it's really getting him down that there does not seem to be one woman who will date him

Recent Examples on the Web

When the state House went into recess Tuesday, Jones got down on one knee and asked Scott to marry him. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 15 Jan. 2025

As the new legislative session commenced on Tuesday, Jan. 14, Jones, one of the first Black gay men to serve in the Texas legislature, got down on one knee and proposed to his longtime partner, Gregory Scott Jr., just after being sworn in at the State Capitol in Austin. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025

While on a flight to Mexico for Alden's birthday, Riber took that moment as an opportunity to get down on one knee while thousands of feet in the air, SWNS reported. —Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025

And then, after the show aired, Murphy got down on one knee and surprised Sawyer with a proposal. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1