write-down

1 of 2

noun

ˈrīt-ˌdau̇n 

: 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

Synonyms of write-down

Verb

• reduce
• mark down
• write off

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

With Amazon’s $2.2 trillion market cap, competitors often joke that the behemoth could count a write-down in the hundreds of millions of dollars as a rounding error. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026

Stellantis last month disclosed $26 billion in charges related to its EV plans, while its crosstown Detroit rivals also have announced write-downs. —Michael Wayland, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2026

Verb

The original owner wrote down the exact amount of gasoline added to the car, down to the hundredth of a gallon. —Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 26 Mar. 2026

The most fundamental type of mathematical notation is numerals — being able to write down numbers. —John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for write-down

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

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

ˈrīt-ˌdau̇n 

noun