settle down

phrasal verb

settled down; settling down; settles down
1
: to become quiet, calm, or orderly
Settle down, children.
When things settle down here, I'll come for a visit.
2
: to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc.
They swore they would never settle down and get married.
3
: to put oneself into a comfortable position
He settled down for the night.
4
: to become quiet and begin giving one's attention to something
They quickly settled down to their work.

Examples of settle down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The former couple noted that deciding where to settle down contributed to their decision to split. USA TODAY, 15 Apr. 2024 Abner later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 3-0. Foothill starting pitcher Gavin Lauridsen settled down after the rocky first inning and kept the Knights in the game. Michael Huntley, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 Birds may settle down or grow quiet, and nocturnal insects may come out. Douglas Goodwin, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024 Besides being ultra-nourishing, the smell of this lotion is divine and makes settling down for the night that much easier. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024 That’s starting to change, as worker shortages are no longer plaguing employers and the costs of running a business settle down. Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 The relationship grew stronger as the years went on, and the high school sweethearts married in 2018 before settling down in Chaska. Alex Malm, Twin Cities, 29 Feb. 2024 In The Cemetery of Untold Stories, the author is exploring the question of settling down, settling in and ceding the floor to younger writers coming up behind her. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024 Nick finally moved to Dallas in 2022, and the couple combined their belongings and furniture—and, most importantly, their three dogs—to settle down in a quaint neighborhood in the city. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'settle down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Settle down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/settle%20down. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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