downward

[doun-werd]

adverb

1. Also downwards. from a higher to a lower place or condition.

2. down from a source or beginning.

   As the river flows downward, it widens.

3. from a past time, predecessor, or ancestor.

   The estate was handed downward from generation to generation.

adjective

1. moving or tending to a lower place or condition.

2. descending from a source or beginning.

downward

/ ˈdaʊnwəd /

adjective

1. descending from a higher to a lower level, condition, position, etc

2. descending from a beginning

adverb

1. a variant of downwards

Other Word Forms

• downwardly adverb
• downwardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of downward¹

1150–1200; Middle English dounward, aphetic variant of adounward, Old English adūnweard. See down ¹, -ward

Example Sentences

After an initial sideways phase, two-year Treasury yields are likely to resume their downward trend following Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts expected from June onwards, says the head of research at the German bank.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Trade tensions between the U.S. and China put downward pressure on markets as investors expect a 25-basis-point rate cut this month.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite uncertainty around the details, Goldman Sachs expects downward risks to crude prices.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This downward trend in tenure significantly increases pressure on CEOs to focus on short-term results.

Read more on Barron's

These are the structures known as Coloe Fossae, created when alternating blocks of surface material dropped downward.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• descending www.thesaurus.com
• downwards