download

American  

[doun-lohd] / ˈdaʊnˌloʊd /

verb (used with object)

1. to transfer (software, data, character sets, etc.) from a distant to a nearby computer, from a larger to a smaller computer, or from a computer to a peripheral device.

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noun

1. software, data, etc., that has been downloaded.

   the best free music downloads.

2. the act or process of downloading.

download British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌləʊd /

verb

1. to copy or transfer (data or a program) into the memory of one computer system from a larger one

2. 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

3. to delegate or assign (work, responsibilities, costs, etc) to a someone at a lower level of an organization; off-load

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noun

1. a file transferred onto a computer from another computer or the internet

download Scientific  

/ doun′lōd′ /

1. To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one's own computer or digital device.

2. Compare upload

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Other Word Forms

• downloadable adjective

Etymology

Origin of download

down ¹ + load

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.

Example Sentences

The mostly ad-free Lite tier was introduced last March, and allows users to download videos and watch content in the background.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

"In order to download the CV, you have to pay. So I did that, and I just thought it was a one-off thing."

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

An email sent to the app’s developers returned an automatic response with a download link for Max.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

But interest rapidly faded; by February the download pace had fallen to just over 1 million, according to market researchers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

If you flag the book before you download the clue, you will earn double the points if you reach the book first.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

• load
• log in