downstream
Americanadverb
adjective
-
of or relating to the latter part of a process or system.
-
Genetics. with or in the direction of transcription, translation, or synthesis of a DNA, RNA, or protein molecule.
adverb
-
in or towards the lower part of a stream; with the current
-
(in the oil industry) of or for the refining, distribution, or marketing of oil or its derived products Compare upstream
Etymology
Origin of downstream
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.
But the new structure will supersede the "extremely narrow" rail-and-road Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge downstream on the Yalu River, said Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
“Digger” probably will make money through downstream revenue sources such as streaming.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
When an acetyl tag is added to BCL6, the protein loses its ability to suppress the cell-death genes downstream from it.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
Lynas will study the potential for additional downstream processing in Brazil, in line with the country’s economic and sustainability goals, it said in the joint statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
They made their way cautiously, silently, quickly, downstream.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
