1.
to write something so you don't forget
“Write down my phone number.”
“I wrote it down in my notebook.”
“Don't forget to write everything down.”
Synonyms: to note, to jot down, to take note
Phrasal verb
What does write down mean?
Meaning: to write something on paper
B1
This page for:
Quick answer
Write down = to write something on paper so that you don't forget it. Write down my number = write my number somewhere. It is separable: write it down. The idea is to keep a record.
Meanings of the phrasal verb
Word order
Separable
The object can go between the verb and the particle. With a pronoun (it, them), it always goes between.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- write down
- Past Simple:
- wrote down
- Past participle:
- written down
- -ing form:
- writing down
Common mistakes to avoid
Irregular verb: wrote / written
Write is irregular: write → wrote → written. I wrote down the address (Past Simple). I have written down everything (Present Perfect). Never writed ❌.
With a pronoun: between the verb and the particle
Write it down ✓ / Write down it ❌. With a noun: write down the number / write the number down (both work).
Write down, note or jot down?
They mean almost the same. Write down is neutral and common. Note is a little more formal, mostly in writing. Jot down = to write something very quickly.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: write down
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What's next?
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English contestWrite down: often tested in the English contest
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Frequently asked questions
What does write down mean?+
Write down = to write something on paper so that you remember it. Write down the date. It is a very common phrasal verb, and the meaning is easy to see (down = onto the page).
Is write down separable?+
Yes. With a noun: write down the number / write the number down. With a pronoun: write it down ✓ (never write down it).
What is the past simple of write down?+
Wrote down. Write is irregular: write → wrote → written. I wrote it down (Past Simple). I have written it down (Present Perfect: the note is still there now).
What is the difference between write down and jot down?+
They are very close. Write down is neutral and common. Jot down = to write something very quickly, without care. Let me jot down your name = let me write your name quickly.
Why do we say write down?+
The idea is that you write onto the page in front of you. It is also an image: the information goes from “up” (your head) to “down” (the paper). You find the same image in note down, jot down and get it down.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/write-down
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.