settle down

Meaning

To 'settle down' means to begin living a stable, routine life, often by getting married, buying a home, or staying in one location for a long time. It is commonly used when someone transitions from a phase of partying, traveling, or dating around to a more permanent lifestyle. The tone is neutral and fits well in both casual and family settings.

Examples

• After years of traveling the world, she finally decided to settle down in Spain.

  After years of traveling the world, she finally decided to settle down in Spain.

• Are you planning to settle down and start a family, or do you want to keep traveling?

  Are you planning to settle down and start a family, or do you want to keep traveling?

• He used to party every weekend, but he really settled down after meeting Sarah.

  He used to party every weekend, but he really settled down after meeting Sarah.

• They bought a house in the suburbs, ready to settle down for the long haul.

  They bought a house in the suburbs, ready to settle down for the long haul.

• My parents keep asking me when I'm going to settle down, but I'm not ready yet.

  My parents keep asking me when I'm going to settle down, but I'm not ready yet.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He wants to settle down himself in London.

  ✓ He wants to settle down in London.

  The phrasal verb 'settle down' is intransitive and does not take a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.

• ✗ They settled down their life after the wedding.

  ✓ They settled down after the wedding.

  You cannot 'settle down' an object like 'life'. The verb is used intransitively to describe the state of the people involved.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They got tired of moving from city to city and decided to ___ in Chicago.

  💡 To start living a stable, permanent life in one place.

  Show answer

  settle down

• Do you think he'll ever ___ , or will he stay a bachelor forever?

  💡 To establish a stable, long-term lifestyle or relationship.

  Show answer

  settle down