settle down

Meanings

1. 1phraseintransitive

   To begin living a calm, stable life, often after a period of moving around or upheaval.

   Grammar: No object; often used with 'and' + verb: 'settle down and start a family'.

   Patterns

   • settle down
   • settle down and do something
   • settle down in a place

   After years of traveling, he decided to settle down in a small town.

   They want to settle down and buy a house before having children.

   She settled down in London and opened a bookshop.

2. 2phraseintransitive

   To become calm or quiet after being excited or restless.

   Grammar: No object; often used in commands to a group: 'Settle down, everyone.'

   Patterns

   • settle down
   • settle down to something
   • settle down and listen

   The children finally settled down after their bedtime story.

   Please settle down and open your books to page ten.

   It took a while for the audience to settle down after the loud applause.

Common combinations

settle down to something

After dinner, she settled down to work on her essay.

settle down for the night

The campers settled down for the night around the fire.

settle down and start a family

Many of their friends have settled down and started families.

settle down in a place

They settled down in a quiet village near the coast.

Synonyms and how they differ

calm down

Focuses on becoming less angry or excited; 'settle down' can also mean starting a stable life.

put down roots

Emphasizes becoming part of a community; 'settle down' is broader and can simply mean living a stable life.

Opposites

Practice

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