put-down-roots
/ˌpʊt daʊn ˈruːts/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To settle in one place and make it your home for a long time. It often suggests building a stable life there.
- They plan to put down roots in Pune.
- After years of moving, she wanted to put down roots.
- The job helped him put down roots abroad.
Adinary Nuance
Put down roots is stronger and more personal than just move or live somewhere. It suggests staying long enough to feel settled, build routines, and become part of the place. Writers choose it when they want to show a deeper sense of belonging than settle alone.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- an cư
- Spanish
- echar raíces
- Chinese
- 扎根
- Japanese
- 根を下ろす
- Korean
- 뿌리내리다
Etymology
This phrase comes from the image of a plant sending roots into the ground. It became common in modern English as a figurative way to mean settling permanently.
Common phrases
put down roots in a cityput down roots abroadstart to put down rootsdeeply rooted in a place
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is put down roots formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in both speech and writing.
- What is the difference between put down roots and settle down?
- Put down roots focuses on becoming attached to a place. Settle down often means becoming calmer, more stable, or starting family life.
- Can I use put down roots for a job or business?
- Usually, it is used for a person or family, not a job. You can say a business is established instead.
- Is put down roots common in IELTS writing?
- Yes, it can work well when talking about migration, housing, or long-term plans.