download
Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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software, data, etc., that has been downloaded.
the best free music downloads.
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the act or process of downloading.
verb
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to copy or transfer (data or a program) into the memory of one computer system from a larger one
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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
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to delegate or assign (work, responsibilities, costs, etc) to a someone at a lower level of an organization; off-load
noun
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To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one's own computer or digital device.
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Compare upload
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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downloadsimple
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downloadssimple
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have downloadedperfect
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has downloadedperfect
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am downloadingprogressive
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are downloadingprogressive
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is downloadingprogressive
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have been downloadingperfect progressive
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has been downloadingperfect progressive
Past
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downloadedsimple
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had downloadedperfect
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was downloadingprogressive
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were downloadingprogressive
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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
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Computer Science and Technology - High School
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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:
Founded in 2023, the company sells software that allows customers to easily access AI models built by OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as “open-weight” alternatives that are free for anyone to download and run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Additionally, Arya said every download of an open-weight model leads to another customer’s need for memory to run it on their hardware — something that isn’t the case with closed models.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Clubs now use digital systems where fans download tickets to their phones.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
There will be a box at some stores, yes, but it contains a download code, not a disc.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
If you need some staff paper, you can download this PDF file22 .
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
The FT’s article reports that the Chinese government discussed restricting the transfer of important data abroad and limiting the downloads of models by foreign users.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
In May, the number of downloads was about 59,729.
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
These regulations were followed by a spike in downloads of VPNs and calls from some, including the Children's Commissioner, for age checks to restrict them for young people.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
“I have a present for you, Petra. I couldn’t get your curriculum approved, but since you’re technically old enough for more downloads, and these are off the record...”
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
Apple accuses Liu of using a former colleague’s work computer to access Apple’s network, alleging that Liu downloaded “dozens of Apple’s confidential hardware-related files.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Digital tickets must be downloaded and activated before boarding the train to be valid.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Snapchat was popular among her peers and friends so J.F. downloaded the app, which was presented as lighthearted and entertaining platform, without her parents’ knowledge or consent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
I’d downloaded “Hang On Little Tomato” to listen to as I wrote.
From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks
Eligible participants can add a driver’s license by downloading the DMV Wallet app or through Apple, Google and Samsung wallet apps and following the prompts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
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
"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
Meanwhile, downloading software and MP3s was sometimes agonizingly slow; even worse, they’d gotten their butts kicked when they went online to play Quake or Half-Life against geeks who did have cable modems.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
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.
