nail down

verb

to attach with nails

“Nail down the shelf, then paint it.”

Similar
nailpegpin downpeg downnarrow downnarrowspecifyfinalize
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Meanings

verbnail down (third-person singular simple present nails down, present participle nailing down, simple past and past participle nailed down)

present singular third person nails down · participle present nailing down · participle past nailed down · past nailed down

  1. transitiveto attach with nails

    Nail down the shelf, then paint it.

  2. idiomatictransitiveto make something (e.g. a decision or plan) firm or certain

    They haven't nailed down their vacation plans yet.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbsucceed in obtaining a position

Similar
nailpeg
Broader
succeedwincome through

verbdefine clearly

Similar
pin downpeg downnarrow downnarrowspecify
Broader
determine

verbmake final; put the last touches on; put into final form

Similar
finalizefinalisesettle
Broader
endterminate
Also see
finalizenailnarrownarrow downpegpeg downpin downsettlespecify

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

nail down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20down

MLA

“nail down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20down. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nail down,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nail%20down.

Source: nail down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.