downtown
Americanadverb
adjective
noun
noun
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
And that should create new opportunities for communities that too often viewed downtown as not just a few miles up Lake Shore Drive, but a world away.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
Cardboard cutouts of photographers are stationed along the route during the Red Bull Soapbox Race in downtown Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
Pro-Palestinian activists organised an alternative concert dubbed "song protest" on Friday in downtown Vienna, which has been under tight security all week.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
The Chicago Fire’s $750 million stadium, currently under construction, will be located south of downtown.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Often this meant making a trip into downtown Washington, but sometimes she had to travel much farther to get the information she needed.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
