Definition

1. Verb (Phrasal Verb):
   • To become calm, quiet, or orderly after a period of disturbance or agitation: This refers to a person, group, or situation becoming less excited, anxious, or chaotic.
   • To adopt a stable, orderly, and permanent way of life, often involving a long-term home, relationship, or job: This refers to establishing a routine and responsibilities associated with adult life.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Phrasal Verb):
  • The teacher asked the class to settle down and begin the test. (The class needed to become quiet and orderly.)
  • It took her a few minutes to settle down after hearing the shocking news. (She needed time to become calm after being agitated.)
  • After years of traveling, he decided to settle down in a small town and start a family. (He chose to establish a permanent, stable life.)
  • They plan to settle down once they both find stable jobs. (They intend to establish a stable lifestyle.)

Advanced Usage

• "to settle (someone/something) down": To cause another person, animal, or situation to become calm.
  • A warm bottle of milk helped settle the baby down. (The milk caused the baby to become calm.)
  • The manager settled the team down before the important presentation. (The manager made the team calm and focused.)

Variants and Related Words

• Settle (verb): To resolve (a dispute), to pay (a debt), or to establish a community. (e.g., , , ).
• Settled (adjective): Describing a calm, stable, or established state. (e.g., , ).
• Settlement (noun): An official agreement or a small community. (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• Calm down: To become or make calm.
• Quieten down: To become or make quiet.
• Establish oneself: To set up one's life in a stable way.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Settle in: To become comfortable and familiar with a new place or situation.
  • It took a week for the new employee to settle in.
• Settle for: To accept something that is less than what one wanted.
  • We wanted a sea view but had to settle for a room facing the garden.

Related Idioms

• Get/Be settled down: To be in a state of having established a stable life.
  • All his brothers are married and settled down now.
• Settle down to (something): To begin to give one's full attention to a task.
  • After lunch, she settled down to write her report.

Verb

1. become quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation
   • After the fight both men need to cool off.
   • It took a while after the baby was born for things to settle down again.
2. become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
   • He finally settled down
3. settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground
   • dust settled on the roofs