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  • down
    down
    adverb
    from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position.
  • Down
    Down
    noun
    a county in SW Northern Ireland. 952 sq. mi. (2,466 sq. km). Downpatrick.
Synonyms

down

1 American  
[doun] / daʊn /

adverb

  1. from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position.

    to come down the ladder.

  2. on or to the ground, floor, or bottom.

    He fell down.

  3. to or in a sitting or lying position.

  4. to or in a position, area, or district considered lower, especially from a geographical or cartographic standpoint, as to the south, a business district, etc..

    We drove from San Francisco down to Los Angeles.

  5. to or at a lower value or rate.

  6. to a lesser pitch or volume.

    Turn down the radio.

  7. in or to a calmer, less active, or less prominent state.

    The wind died down.

  8. from an earlier to a later time.

    from the 17th century down to the present.

  9. from a greater to a lesser strength, amount, etc..

    to water down liquor.

  10. in an attitude of earnest application.

    to get down to work.

  11. on paper or in a book.

    Write down the address.

  12. in cash at the time of purchase; at once.

    We paid $50 down and $20 a month.

  13. to the point of defeat, submission, inactivity, etc..

    They shouted down the opposition.

  14. in or into a fixed or supine position.

    They tied down the struggling animal.

  15. to the source or actual position.

    The dogs tracked down the bear.

  16. into a condition of ill health.

    He's come down with a cold.

  17. in or into a lower status or condition.

    kept down by lack of education.

  18. Nautical. toward the lee side, so as to turn a vessel to windward.

    Put the helm down!

  19. Slang. on toast (as used in ordering a sandwich at a lunch counter or restaurant).

    Give me a tuna down.


preposition

  1. in a descending or more remote direction or place on, over, or along.

    They ran off down the street.

adjective

  1. downward; going or directed downward.

    the down escalator.

  2. being at a low position or on the ground, floor, or bottom.

  3. toward the south, a business district, etc.

  4. associated with or serving traffic, transportation, or the like, directed toward the south, a business district, etc..

    the down platform.

  5. downcast; depressed; dejected.

    You seem very down today.

  6. ailing, especially, sick and bedridden.

    He's been down with a bad cold.

  7. being the portion of the full price, as of an article bought on the installment plan, that is paid at the time of purchase or delivery.

    a payment of $200 down.

  8. Football. (of the ball) not in play.

  9. Slang.

    1. agreeing, supporting, or understanding.

      I'm totally down with that.

      He's down with those kids.

    2. sophisticated or hip; cool.

      That music is down.

  10. behind an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc..

    The team won the pennant despite having been down three games in the final week of play.

  11. Baseball. out.

  12. losing or having lost the amount indicated, especially at gambling.

    After an hour at poker, he was down $10.

  13. having placed one's bet.

    Are you down for the fourth race?

  14. finished, done, considered, or taken care of.

    five down and one to go.

  15. out of order; not functioning.

    The computer has been down all day.

noun

  1. a downward movement; descent.

  2. a turn for the worse; reverse.

    The business cycle experienced a sudden down.

  3. Football.

    1. one of a series of four plays during which a team must advance the ball at least 10 yards (9 meters) to keep possession of it.

    2. the declaring of the ball as down or out of play, or the play immediately preceding this.

  4. Slang. an order of toast at a lunch counter or restaurant.

  5. Slang. downer.

verb (used with object)

  • downs,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • downed,
    past participle,  past
  • downing
    present participle
  1. to put, knock, or throw down; subdue.

    He downed his opponent in the third round.

  2. to drink down, especially quickly or in one gulp.

    to down a tankard of ale.

  3. Informal. to defeat in a game or contest.

    The Mets downed the Dodgers in today's game.

  4. to cause to fall from a height, especially by shooting.

    Antiaircraft guns downed ten bombers.

verb (used without object)

  • downs,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • downed,
    past participle,  past
  • downing
    present participle
  1. to go down; fall.

interjection

  1. (used as a command to a dog to stop attacking, to stop jumping on someone, to get off a couch or chair, etc.).

    Down, Rover!

  2. (used as a command or warning to duck, take cover, or the like).

    Down! They're starting to shoot!

idioms

  1. down cold / pat, mastered or learned perfectly.

    Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold.

  2. down and out, down-and-out.

  3. down with!

    1. away with! cease!.

      Down with tyranny!

    2. on or toward the ground or into a lower position.

      Down with your rifles!

  4. down on, hostile or averse to.

    Why are you so down on sports?

  5. down in the mouth, discouraged; depressed; sad.

down 2 American  
[doun] / daʊn /

noun

  1. the soft, first plumage of many young birds.

  2. the soft under plumage of birds as distinct from the contour feathers.

  3. the under plumage of some birds, as geese and ducks, used for filling in quilts, clothing, etc., chiefly for warmth.

  4. a growth of soft, fine hair or the like.

  5. Botany.

    1. a fine, soft pubescence on plants and some fruits.

    2. the light, feathery pappus or coma on seeds by which they are borne on the wind, as on the dandelion and thistle.


adjective

  1. filled with down.

    a down jacket.

down 3 American  
[doun] / daʊn /

noun

  1. Often downs. (used especially in southern England) open, rolling, upland country with fairly smooth slopes usually covered with grass.

  2. (initial capital letter) any sheep of several breeds, raised originally in the downs of southern England, as the Southdown, Suffolk, etc.

  3. Archaic. a hill, especially a sand hill or dune.


Down 4 American  
[doun] / daʊn /

noun

  1. a county in SW Northern Ireland. 952 sq. mi. (2,466 sq. km). Downpatrick.

  2. an administrative district in this county. 253 sq. mi. (654 sq. km).


down 1 British  
/ daʊn /

preposition

  1. used to indicate movement from a higher to a lower position

    they went down the mountain

  2. at a lower or further level or position on, in, or along

    he ran down the street

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. downwards; at or to a lower level or position

    don't fall down

  2. (particle) used with many verbs when the result of the verb's action is to lower or destroy its object

    pull down

    knock down

    bring down

  3. (particle) used with several verbs to indicate intensity or completion

    calm down

  4. immediately

    cash down

  5. on paper

    write this down

  6. arranged; scheduled

    the meeting is down for next week

  7. in a helpless position

    they had him down on the ground

    1. away from a more important place

      down from London

    2. away from a more northerly place

      down from Scotland

    3. (of a member of some British universities) away from the university; on vacation

    4. in a particular part of a country

      down south

  8. nautical (of a helm) having the rudder to windward

  9. reduced to a state of lack or want

    down to the last pound

  10. lacking a specified amount

    at the end of the day the cashier was ten pounds down

  11. lower in price

    bacon is down

  12. including all intermediate terms, grades, people, etc

    from managing director down to tea-lady

  13. from an earlier to a later time

    the heirloom was handed down

  14. to a finer or more concentrated state

    to grind down

    boil down

  15. sport being a specified number of points, goals, etc behind another competitor, team, etc

    six goals down

  16. (of a person) being inactive, owing to illness

    down with flu

  17. (functioning as imperative) (to dogs)

    down Rover!

  18. (functioning as imperative) wanting the end of somebody or something

    down with the king!

  19. to procure something, esp in advance of needs or in anticipation of someone else

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (postpositive) depressed or miserable

  2. (prenominal) of or relating to a train or trains from a more important place or one regarded as higher

    the down line

  3. (postpositive) (of a device, machine, etc, esp a computer) temporarily out of action

  4. made in cash

    a down payment

  5. the responsibility or fault of

    this defeat was down to me

  6. informal

    1. having a good understanding of

      down with computers

    2. in agreement with

      completely down with that idea

    3. enjoying mutual friendship and respect with

      down with the kids

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to knock, push or pull down

  2. (intr) to go or come down

  3. informal (tr) to drink, esp quickly

    he downed three gins

  4. (tr) to bring (someone) down, esp by tackling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. American football one of a maximum of four consecutive attempts by one team to advance the ball a total of at least ten yards

  2. a descent; downward movement

  3. a lowering or a poor period (esp in the phrase ups and downs )

  4. informal to bear ill will towards (someone or something)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
down 2 British  
/ daʊn /

noun

  1. the soft fine feathers with free barbs that cover the body of a bird and prevent loss of heat. In the adult they lie beneath and between the contour feathers

  2. another name for eiderdown

  3. botany a fine coating of soft hairs, as on certain leaves, fruits, and seeds

  4. any growth or coating of soft fine hair, such as that on the human face

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Down 3 British  
/ daʊn /

noun

  1. a district of SE Northern Ireland, in Co Down. Pop: 65 195 (2003 est). Area: 649 sq km (250 sq miles)

  2. a historical county of SE Northern Ireland, on the Irish Sea: generally hilly, rising to the Mountains of Mourne: in 1973 it was replaced for administrative purposes by the districts of Ards, Banbridge, Castlereagh, Down, Newry and Mourne, North Down, and part of Lisburn. Area: 2466 sq km (952 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Down 4 British  
/ daʊn /

noun

  1. any of various lowland breeds of sheep, typically of stocky build and having dense close wool, originating from various parts of southern England, such as Oxford, Hampshire, etc See also Dorset Down

  2. another name for Hampshire Down

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

down 5 British  
/ daʊn /

noun

  1. archaic a hill, esp a sand dune See also downs Downs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

down More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing down


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of down1

First recorded before 1100; Middle English doune, Old English dūne, shortening of adūne for of dūne “off (the) hill”; see origin at a- 2, down 3

Origin of down2

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English downe, from Old Norse dūnn; akin to Sanskrit dhūmá- “smoke,” Greek thȳmós “soul, breath, spirit,” Latin fūmus “smoke,” Lithuanian dū́mai “smoke,” Slavic (Polish) dym “smoke”

Origin of down3

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dun, dune “hill, elevation,” Old English dūn “mountain, hill, down”; cognate with Dutch duin “mound, dune,” akin to Irish, Old Irish dún “citadel, fortress”; see origin at dune, town

Explanation

The adverb down means "from a higher place to a lower one," like when a person climbs down a ladder or a waiter puts a tray full of cakes down on a table. Anything that moves lower — in height, location, or volume — is down, so you can travel down south, tell your dog to get down, or turn your loud music down. Down can also refer to a mood or condition; if you're feeling down, you're sad, and if your computer is down, it's not working. Another meaning of down is the soft feathers of a young bird, which is sometimes used to fill coats or comforters.

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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.

See Examples For:

I could also put down a substantial good-faith deposit and settle the balance at the end of the day if the total exceeds the deposit.

From MarketWatch Sep. 11, 2026

Anglo American falls 5.4% while BHP’s London shares are down 4.7%.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 11, 2026

Through my work as a stylist and my personal style, I want people walking down the street or scrolling on social media to stop and think.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 11, 2026

August also saw the ATP for electric vehicles decline to $54,813, 1.2% lower from the prior month and down 2.7% from August 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 11, 2026

A four-horse wagon is broken down, its back wheels cracked, spinning at odd angles.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Now, for the first time, the NFL is preparing to unveil a regular-season game Down Under.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 8, 2026

Down a quiet residential lane in central Taipei, behind the stalls of a farmers market, I found a shrine to the area’s Taoist earth god.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 6, 2026

How he financed it: Down payment of 18%, 30-year mortgage, rate was 7%

From MarketWatch Sep. 1, 2026

Down the street, Christine from Jam Vybz Kitchen was preparing for her first time working at Notting Hill Carnival.

From BBC Aug. 31, 2026

Down among the partitions of the maze, with so many lunch-smelling rooters breathing on him, Ralph had no idea of the direction of the peanut butter.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

He added he hoped "voluntary slow downs" - a self-imposed pause by companies in AI development - would become commonplace until shared guardrails were established.

From BBC Sep. 7, 2026

Detroit’s automakers have responded to tariff ups and downs by planning to onshore production of certain vehicles and parts to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

After ups and downs, her condition deteriorated and she died on Aug. 9.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 21, 2026

Nine out of 10 of the most popular stocks for hedge funds are megacap tech companies and the ups and downs of the AI sector still drive their performance, their leverage and their positioning.

From MarketWatch Aug. 21, 2026

When he came out of Hang Wood, he would go across the scrub, and then west, into open farmland, and over the first of the downs.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

The storms caused flooding, downed trees and widespread power outages across the Greater Toronto Area, with thousands of people affected.

From BBC Sep. 3, 2026

That could result in gusty offshore winds, wildfire risks, and downed trees, according to Kristan Lund, meteorologist with the weather service office in Oxnard.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 2, 2026

That fire was started by downed power lines due to high winds.

From MarketWatch Aug. 31, 2026

A surface-to-air battery operated by Greek personnel in Saudi Arabia downed two ballistic missiles and a drone over Yanbu, the Greek air force media office said.

From Barron's Jul. 26, 2026

He couldn’t just run along the road to town; he had to climb over downed trees and step around fallen branches.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

In 2024, Putin apologised to the president of neighbouring Azerbaijan over the downing of a commercial airliner in Russian airspace, in which 38 people were killed.

From BBC Sep. 2, 2026

JC: Think about it: The world of sports has entered a bizarre new dimension, one in which formerly sad-sack teams are now the ones downing champagne and getting showered in confetti.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 11, 2026

On Tuesday and Wednesday night, US and Iranian forces exchanged fresh waves of strikes following the downing of a US helicopter in the Gulf.

From BBC Jun. 11, 2026

But after the downing of the helicopter on Monday, Trump said in a telephone interview with ABC News that the United States was responding "in a strong manner".

From Barron's Jun. 10, 2026

Toby opened his milk without a word, downing the whole carton and wiping his mouth before he finally said, “That means she’s into me, right?”

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

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