pin down

verb

pinned down; pinning down; pins down
Synonyms of pin downnext

transitive verb

1
: to cause or force (someone) to make a definite statement or decision about something
Reporters tried to pin him down on the specific changes he wants to make to the tax laws.
2
: to find out (something) with certainty
Can you pin down when the change occurred?
I'm trying to pin the source of the problem down.

Examples of pin 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.
The wild card in the Society is Gloria (Greta Lee, dazzlingly good), an impish sprite who’s hard to pin down. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 This summer has seen a confluence of challenges, including excessive heat that allows food contamination to grow and a pathogen that’s particularly tough to pin down. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Doing In-Person Media Tours Traditional in-person media tours have lost impact as hybrid work emptied many newsrooms and made reporters harder to pin down in person. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Look for cash The super-rich are calling lawyers to figure out the scope of their exposure and pin down a tax bill. — Anniek Bao,lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pin down

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pin down was in 1765

Rhymes for pin down

See All Rhymes for pin down

Browse Nearby Words

pindot
pin down
pin drafter
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pin down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pin%20down. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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