write-down

1 of 2

noun

: a deliberate reduction in the book value of an asset (as to reflect the effect of obsolescence)

write down

2 of 2

verb

wrote down; written down; writing down; writes down

transitive verb

1
: to record in written form
2
a
: to depreciate, disparage, or injure by writing
b
: to reduce in status, rank, or value
especially : to reduce the book value of

intransitive verb

: to write so as to appeal to a lower level of taste, comprehension, or intelligence

Examples of write-down in a Sentence

Verb a company forced to write down its assets write down what you remember about that day
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
After the merger, creating AOL Time Warner, factors like the dot-com recession greatly affected the company, leading to a historic $100 billion write-down. Michaela Zee, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 Most of the write-down ($700 million to $900 million) will stem from existing TV shows and movies that will be yanked from Paramount’s various digital and linear platforms and development projects that will be scrapped. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 Underlying attributable profit before the nickel write-down was almost the same as the opening half of last financial year at $6.6 billion, led by strong profits in iron ore and copper while group revenue was up 6% at $27.2 billion. Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Procter & Gamble said on Tuesday a write-down of its Gillette business and lower price increases hampered its financial results. Alexander Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2024 The company’s profit was dented by a large write-down in its space business, which Mr. Faury said Airbus was working to turn around. Liz Alderman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Holiday Haunt, which were abruptly pulled from WB's release schedule to take tax write-downs last year. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 13 Nov. 2023 Unfortunately mothering stalled out in post, and Netflix has decided to take the boots the house tax write-down. Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 This brings the company's total write-down of losses on the Starliner program to more than $1.1 billion. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023
Verb
Start by having each of you write down all the jobs the other does. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Free-associate and write down a list – leave nothing out. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Free associate and write down a list – leave nothing out. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 But the punishments for breaking the rules are not written down; the Premier League is governed by convention, not a constitution. Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 As to ranking the relatives, this is best done verbally; if such a list were to be written down and inadvertently forwarded, 20 years would be a light sentence for the resulting storm. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 Molson Coors ended its joint venture, and Constellation has written down more than a $1 billion of its cannabis investments. Julie Creswell, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 It’s hinted at in the documentary that Williams wants to get out of her current situation, as Wanda is shown instructing her over the phone to write down every time her calls go unanswered, presumably to her guardian. Brianne Tracy, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 After each customer makes a purchase, the cashier writes down the title in a log with a pencil before handing it over. The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of write-down was in 1588

Dictionary Entries Near write-down

write down

write-down

write-in

Cite this Entry

“Write-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/write-down. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

write down

transitive verb
wrote down; written down; writing down
: to reduce the book value of (an asset)
write down accounts receivable
write-down noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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