nail down
phrasal verb
nailed down; nailing down; nails down
1
: to make (something, such as a victory) certain to happen
They need to score another touchdown to nail down the victory.
2
: to find out or identify (something) exactly
Her doctors haven't yet been able to nail down a diagnosis.
They're trying to nail down the cause of our network problems.
3
: to make (something) definite or final
nail down a decision
Examples of nail down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whereas French manicures typically curve along the edge of the nail down to the cuticle—even when it's done on square nails—Lovato's micro tips are painted straight across.
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Marci Robin, Allure, 18 Sep. 2025
Piker, a leftist commentator and video-game influencer, was broadcasting live on the streaming platform Twitch on Wednesday, browsing around the internet in an attempt to nail down the truth of what had happened.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
The good news is that Tuesday's updates certainly keep the Apple product line fresh and attractive, providing the time needed to nail down that AI strategy.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Insiders reveal that the final headliner — outside of the after-hours dance music spot — has yet to be nailed down.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail down
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Marci Robin, Allure, 18 Sep. 2025
Piker, a leftist commentator and video-game influencer, was broadcasting live on the streaming platform Twitch on Wednesday, browsing around the internet in an attempt to nail down the truth of what had happened.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
The good news is that Tuesday's updates certainly keep the Apple product line fresh and attractive, providing the time needed to nail down that AI strategy.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Insiders reveal that the final headliner — outside of the after-hours dance music spot — has yet to be nailed down.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nail down
Cite this Entry
“Nail down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nail%20down. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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