Synonyms of takedownnext
1
: the action or an act of taking down
2
: something (such as a rifle) having takedown construction
: constructed so as to be readily taken apart
a takedown rifle

take down

3 of 3

verb

took down; taken down; taking down; takes down

transitive verb

1
: to lower without removing
took down his pants
2
a
: to pull to pieces
take down a building
b
: disassemble
take a rifle down
3
: to lower the spirit or vanity of
4
a
: to write down
took down some notes
b
: to record by mechanical means

intransitive verb

: to become seized or attacked especially by illness

Examples of takedown in a Sentence

Verb there's no need to take us down by making fun of our clothes electricians will take down all the lights for the set after the play has finished its run
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
YouTube has likeness detection, perhaps the most robust deepfake monitoring and takedown system. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 The former daytime talkshow host is known more for her relatable, approachable charm and kind, BFF energy than sharp takedowns, so fans were swift to sympathize with Clarkson and denounce the shop. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Adjective
With Kirby on bottom in the second period and the match scoreless, Lillard conceded an escape point before coming back with a takedown 38 seconds later. — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 13 Mar. 2022 Since Triller relies on access to a catalog of popular music, the seemingly inevitable path of least resistance (and least takedown notices and lawsuits) will be making deals. — Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2020
Verb
Chmerkovskiy quickly took down the offending TikTok, but not before fan screenshots proliferated and Inaba got wind of it. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026 Daniels was sprinting in to take down Bears tight end Colston Loveland when his helmet smashed into Loveland’s knee. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for takedown

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1858, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of takedown was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Takedown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/takedown. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

takedown

1 of 2 noun
take·​down
ˈtāk-ˌdau̇n
: the action or an act of taking down
takedown
ˌtāk-ˌdau̇n
adjective

take down

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)tāk-ˈdau̇n
1
a
: to pull to pieces
2
: to lower the spirit or pride of : humble
3
: to write down or record by mechanical means
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!