settle down

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

There’s nothing better than settling down to watch a film or series that lives up to the book it’s based on—though what that actually looks like can vary. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

Germany failed in its objective to capture Calais and Boulogne, the ports where British reinforcements disembarked, and the front settled down on a long ​north–​south line from near Ostend in Belgium to the Swiss border. — Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026

The number of people settling down for longer-term stays, including work and study, also hit an all-time high last year. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

The game settled down a bit after that first rotation, but Wilson played most of his debut with the well-meaning gracelessness of a puppy who has yet to grow into his paws. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for settle down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown