burn down

phrasal verb

burned down or burnt down; burning down; burns down
1
of a building or other structure : to be destroyed by fire
The hotel burned down in 1922.
2
of a fire : to become smaller : to gradually produce less and less flame
We watched the fire as it slowly burned down.
3
: to destroy (something) by fire
Vandals burned down the school.
burned it down

Examples of burn down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When everything is burning down, SOCs are the firefighters working to protect an organization’s systems. Alex Lanstein, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 My first attempt to microwave chicken (wrapped in aluminum foil) nearly burned down my school. Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 The initial plot concerns sullen teen Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her fraying bond with her depressed father (Aaron Abrams), who move to a sleepy Midwest town that is decaying after the local corn syrup factory shudders and is burned down. William Earl, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025 Approximately 20 out of its 30 structures were completely burned down, according to the Associated Press. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burn down

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Cite this Entry

“Burn down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burn%20down. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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