downtown

[ doun-toun ]

/ ˈdaʊnˈtaʊn /

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See synonyms for downtown on Thesaurus.com

adverb

to or in the main business section of a city.

adjective

of, relating to, or situated in the main business section of a city.

noun

the main business section of a city.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of downtown

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; down¹ + town

OTHER WORDS FROM downtown

downtowner, noun

Words nearby downtown

down to, down-to-earth, down to size, down to the ground, down to the wire, downtown, downtrend, downtrodden, downturn, down under, downvote

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use downtown in a sentence

Washington subscribers include Yours Truly in the West End and Sofitel downtown.
Now that’s room service: What it’s like to check into a hotel just for dinner|Tom Sietsema|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
It’s worth the extended detour into the city of Boise, Idaho, where skiing at Bogus Basin is less than an hour from downtown.
4 Awesome Winter Road Trips to National Parks|Megan Michelson|February 11, 2021|Outside Online
That means temperatures only fall modestly overnight, from the mid-20s in our colder spots to around 30 downtown.
D.C.-area forecast: Cold today before another possible winter storm starting Wednesday night|Jason Samenow|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
Quite cold overnight, with temperatures in the teens outside the Beltway and low 20s downtown.
PM Update: Icy spots develop overnight with frigid temperatures|Greg Porter|February 7, 2021|Washington Post

San Diego is known for its iconic scenes — we’ve got beaches, Balboa Park and the downtown skyline just to name a few.
Morning Report: Growing the County’s Carbon-Cutting Efforts|Voice of San Diego|February 3, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Soon thereafter, Bentivolio was asked to play Santa in downtown Milford and became a professional.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He speaks while sipping a soda in the restaurant of the Residence Victoria in downtown Kisangani.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was headquartered in Stanleyville, in a tall corner building that still stands in the decrepit, yet lively, downtown.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Will and Kate will start with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial downtown, and end with a monster fundraiser at the Met.
When Your Royalty Met Ours: Kate Meets Bey Courtside|Tom Sykes|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just downtown shone the Freedom Tower, which has risen where the World Trade Center came down in the 9/11 attacks.
Eric Garner Was Just a Number to Them|Michael Daly|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The first time she had leave to go downtown she made an excuse to go into a book store and purchase a copy.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
He rode downtown with Louis and they went over to that same East side hotel and Louis went upstairs.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Bill Chadwick, another classmate of mine, came up from downtown, and met us at the church door.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
She was quite sure that he had not expected to spend the afternoon downtown, and she wondered what was troubling him.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
The problem of providing social opportunity faced the downtown churches.
The Leaven in a Great City|Lillian William Betts

British Dictionary definitions for downtown

downtown

/ (ˈdaʊnˈtaʊn) US, Canadian and NZ /

noun

the central or lower part of a city, esp the main commercial area

adverb

towards, to, or into this area

adjective

of, relating to, or situated in the downtown areadowntown Manhattan

Derived forms of downtown

downtowner, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

downtown

Origin of downtown

OTHER WORDS FROM downtown

Words nearby downtown

Words related to downtown

How to use downtown in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for downtown

Derived forms of downtown