take down

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"take-down" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“take down” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To remove something from a wall or similar vertical surface to which it is fixed.

Corpus desk

Index EN-take-down · take down · English

take down · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 9 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "T" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for take down
PropertyValue
Headwordtake down
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “take down” sits in English frequency

take down falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

take down is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 12 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for take down in our index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.

This entry carries no recorded etymology, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct English form is take down, spelled T-A-K-E- -D-O-W-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove something from a wall or similar vertical surface to which it is fixed.
  2. 2
    To remove something from a hanging position.
  3. 3
    To remove something from a website.
  4. 4
    To write down as a note, especially to record something spoken.
  5. 5
    To remove a temporary structure such as scaffolding.
  6. 6
    To lower an item of clothing without removing it.
  7. 7
    To arrest someone or to place them in detention.
  8. 8
    To swallow.
  9. 9
    To defeat; to destroy or kill (a person).
  10. 10
    To force one’s opponent off their feet in order to transition from striking to grappling in jujitsu, mixed martial arts, etc.
  11. 11
    To collapse or become incapacitated from illness or fatigue.
  12. 12
    To reduce.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how take down appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. He took down the picture and replaced it with the framed photograph.
  2. We need to take down the curtains to be cleaned.

This word in other languages

descolgar(Español)décrocher(Français)herunternehmen(Deutsch)derrubar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

PlainSpell is rendered directly from structured Wiktionary extracts and open word-frequency lists, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of September 3, 2026. Primary sources: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) and FrequencyWords.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "take down"?
"take down" is spelled T-A-K-E- -D-O-W-N.
What does "take down" mean?
As a verb, "take down" means: To remove something from a wall or similar vertical surface to which it is fixed.
What language does "take down" come from?
"take down" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

What to do next

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Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list