turn down

verb

turned down; turning down; turns down

transitive verb

1

: to reduce the height or intensity of by turning a control

turn down the radio

2

: to fold or double down

turn down the sheets

3

: to decline to accept : reject

turned down the offer

4

: to turn (a card) face downward

intransitive verb

: to be capable of being folded or doubled down

the collar turns down

Synonyms of turn down

• refuse
• reject
• decline
• pass up

Examples of turn down in a Sentence

I'm afraid that I will have to turn down your invitation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe the best thing to happen to the Phillies was Alex Cora turning down president Dave Dombrowski’s offer to replace Thomson. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026

In February, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 124 in Kansas City, together with the National Electrical Contractors Association, expressed shock when residents of the lofts turned down the union’s offer to fix the sign for free, with one stipulation. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026

In the 17 years since, she’s turned down a deal from one of modern hip-hop’s waymakers and landed 14 tracks on the Hot 100. —Mankaprr Conteh, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026

Cooper turned down Weiss' overtures to anchor it and left the network altogether, concerned about her approach, according to associates. —David Folkenflik, NPR, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Rhymes for turn down

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

Kids Definition

turn down

verb

1

: to fold back or down

2

: to lower by turning a control

turn down the heat

3

: reject entry 1 sense 1

turned down the job