pin down

verb

pinned down; pinning down; pins down

transitive verb

1

: to cause or force (someone) to make a definite statement or decision about something

Reporters tried to pin him down on the specific changes he wants to make to the tax laws.

2

: to find out (something) with certainty

Can you pin down when the change occurred?

I'm trying to pin the source of the problem down.

Examples of pin down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team's findings could help better pin down which powerful and violent cosmic events serve as high-energy cosmic ray factories. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Feb. 2026

Sagittarius Compatibility As the free-spirited adventurer of the zodiac, Sagittarius is notoriously difficult to pin down. —Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026

Not even scientists who have dedicated their life to studying chemistry can totally pin down its essence. —Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026

Performances show volatility and restraint Elordi’s Heathcliff is a difficult performance to pin down. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pin down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown