throw down

verb

threw down; thrown down; throwing down; throws down

transitive verb

1

: to cause to fall : overthrow

2

: precipitate

3

: to cast off : discard

4

: to make (a slam dunk) with exceptional force

Synonyms of throw down

• throw
• drop

Examples of throw down in a Sentence

throw down the gun, and put your hands up

Recent Examples on the Web

Wembanyama burst around it, received a pass and threw down a dunk. —Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

The gauntlet has been decisively thrown down. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026

Frequent collaborators like Popstar Benny and Alexander Spit provide the soundscape, and Sideshow chooses their most peculiar beats—the anxious ones that most resemble audio equipment thrown down a flight of stairs. —Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 4 Mar. 2026

As the clock ticked toward zero on Sunday, rookie forward Adou Thiero threw down a one-handed dunk for a three-point play and guard Kobe Bufkin converted a layup off a nifty assist from guard Bronny James, who then produced the arena’ loudest roar of the night with a step-back 3-pointer. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for throw down

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