downtown
Americanadverb
adjective
noun
noun
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of downtown
Explanation
Downtown is the area of a city that's the busiest, with the most shops, restaurants, buildings, and pedestrians. You can usually take a bus, train, or subway to get around downtown. The widespread use of downtown probably started in New York City during the early 19th century. The original city hub was located at the southern tip of Manhattan, and as development proceeded northward, New Yorkers began to distinguish between downtown and uptown. In many cities today, downtown doesn't refer to the southern area of the city, just its heart or center.
Vocabulary lists containing downtown
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 7
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"Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall
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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.
The affordable units will serve tenants with very low and extremely low incomes, and Downtown Women’s Center has agreed to serve the project’s residents.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
She covered New York politics as an intern for City & State NY, was a community editor for the Queens Ledger and Brooklyn Downtown Star, and covered education for WHYY.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
The partying continued throughout the week and Dawn the Duck was among the participants in the Tartan Army's Downtown March in Providence, Rhode Island, on 18 June.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
Some even referenced local causes, such as the “Boo Boo Bandage Brigade for Safe Streets,” which advocated for fixing sidewalks and increasing accessibility Downtown.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026
“Arletta’s people called Mom’s office this morning. They’d like to show their support for Hope Springs and make what Mom called a ‘significant donation’ to the Downtown Revitalization Fund.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
