The phrasal verb "mark down" is commonly used in both informal and formal contexts, though its frequency of use tends towards more formal settings, particularly in commerce and academia. In the retail sector, "mark down" refers to the reduction of the price of goods, typically employed to indicate a sale or clearance to attract customers. For example, a store might "mark down" its winter clothing at the end of the season. In academic contexts, "mark down" can also refer to the act of reducing a student's grade for a particular assignment or overall performance, often due to errors or substandard work. This phrasal verb can be used in written and spoken language and sometimes appears in discussions around budgeting or financial adjustments, where it refers to lowering numerical estimates or financial values. The versatility of "mark down" across different sectors makes it a widely recognizable term, though its precise meaning often depends on contextual clues.
B1
Intermediate
1. To reduce the price of goods in a store, making them cheaper for customers.
The store marked down all the winter clothes to clear out last season's inventory.
Many retailers mark down their products after the holiday season to boost sales.
2. To write or note something more slowly or less forcefully.
She marked down the details in her notebook during the lecture.
Don't mark my score down just because of minor errors.