download
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
-
software, data, etc., that has been downloaded.
the best free music downloads.
-
the act or process of downloading.
verb
-
to copy or transfer (data or a program) into the memory of one computer system from a larger one
-
to broadcast specialist programmes, for such groups as doctors, outside normal broadcasting hours. They are often recorded on video tapes and viewed later Compare upload
-
to delegate or assign (work, responsibilities, costs, etc) to a someone at a lower level of an organization; off-load
noun
-
To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one's own computer or digital device.
-
Compare upload
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
downloadsimple
-
downloadssimple
-
have downloadedperfect
-
has downloadedperfect
-
am downloadingprogressive
-
are downloadingprogressive
-
is downloadingprogressive
-
have been downloadingperfect progressive
-
has been downloadingperfect progressive
Past
-
downloadedsimple
-
had downloadedperfect
-
was downloadingprogressive
-
were downloadingprogressive
-
had been downloadingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of download
Explanation
When you've got files on one computer that you need to transfer onto another, you'll need to download or copy the data onto a portable drive to move it. Back before the internet brought the world to our fingers, the word download was used mainly to describe the process of copying files or data from one computer to another. But these days, you can download or copy, just about anything from the internet — from music to movies to books. Another thing you can download, if you aren't careful, is a virus, so be wary before you go transferring all kinds of files to your computer.
Vocabulary lists containing download
Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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!
Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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!
Computer Science and Technology - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Scammers will ask you to provide or verify personal information, account login details or two-factor authentication codes, transfer money to them or download malicious software, it says.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
There will be a box at some stores, yes, but it contains a download code, not a disc.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
App download patterns give some support to the notion that users support Anthropic’s position.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
The French company develops so-called open models, which allow users to download and modify them.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
“Fine,” I say, half listening as I skim through the titles of the articles I can download.
From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass
According to Similarweb, a digital market intelligence company, downloads of the app began to rise from just over 14,000 last October to 33,710 in November.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Though the company’s overall game downloads have slowed, its gross revenue has largely increased every year since 2020, according to Appfigures data.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
We evaluated streaming performance and P2P behavior by running downloads and streaming concurrently to observe throttling and buffering.
From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026
Caitlin often travels to Wigan and Doncaster, and says she usually brings a book or downloads TV shows or music in advance.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
The vials and collection tools would’ve intimidated me before the hundreds of years of downloads.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Its arrival later this month will make it the world's first open-source model in the three-trillion-parameter class that can be freely downloaded, run and customised by outside developers.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Its mobile app has been downloaded 758,000 times since its launch, according to market-intelligence firm Sensor Tower, which reports that it had 122,000 mobile users in the second quarter of 2026.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Digital tickets must be downloaded and activated before boarding the train to be valid.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
That means it can be downloaded and run on hardware operated by anybody and can be modified and used without supervision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
As the file downloaded, I glanced away from my screen, through the slits of the blinds to the parking lot outside.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
It also argued that customers were in no way forced to use its products on Android and that downloading competing apps was just a tap away.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Security experts believe manufacturers are paid to add the malware, but many people are tricked into downloading it onto their phones and computers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
He spent the night cutting pictures from magazines and downloading images to create a makeshift catalog, then promised Mason a custom $40,000 necklace.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
"One might recall the various attempts of rights holders to sue people — including grandparents and children — for downloading songs 20 or so years ago," he said.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
I started downloading more, copying more, selling more.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
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.
