downstream
Americanadverb
adjective
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of or relating to the latter part of a process or system.
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Genetics. with or in the direction of transcription, translation, or synthesis of a DNA, RNA, or protein molecule.
adverb
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in or towards the lower part of a stream; with the current
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(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.
"There's a commander within them -- BC6 -- that leads them in relaying signals to the downstream target."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
Weeks later, the Lineage warehouse fire sent even more debris and pollution downstream.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
“We continue to see value in LYC, underpinned by its strategic position as the largest ex-China producer of separated rare earths and growing downstream integration opportunities,” Macquarie says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
The beavers slow the flow of water during downpours and create wetlands that hold it back, easing pressure on the drainage system further downstream.
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
Silently they swallow, shake off the crumbs, and drift downstream for a swim in faster water.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
