The phrasal verb “narrow down” means to reduce the number of options, possibilities, or choices in order to make a final decision easier. It involves filtering out the least important, necessary, or suitable items from a large list until only a manageable few remain. Core Meanings & Contexts
Reducing choices: Trimming a large pool of options down to a select few (e.g., “We narrowed down the job applicants to three finalists.”).
Specifying details: Making a vague concept, search, or research topic more precise (e.g., “The scientists need to narrow down the scope of the study.”).
Identifying a cause: Eliminating possibilities to find a specific root issue or culprit (e.g., “The mechanic ran diagnostic tests to narrow down the engine trouble.”). Grammar and Usage
“Narrow down” is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object of the sentence either after the full phrase or right in the middle:
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