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Definitions

buckle down

VERB
work very hard
Synonyms
WEAK
address apply oneself attend to bend concentrate on dedicate oneself to devote oneself to exert oneself get serious give give oneself over to keep close to keep one's mind on knuckle down launch into occupy oneself with pitch in plunge into put one's hand to the plow put one's nose to the grindstone set to swing into action take the bull by the horns throw turn
Antonyms
WEAK
be lazy ignore relax

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Investors and consumers need to buckle down and brace for a lot more volatility ahead—especially when it comes to oil prices.

From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026

If she can find a path to collective resilience in these dark times, I’d better suit up and buckle down.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

“Let’s buckle down together, let’s remove barriers for each other and let’s go get it, all right?” he said to applause.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 20, 2025

We just got to buckle down, stick with each other and not let this break us apart.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2024

“I just got to buckle down and hit the books,” I said.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.