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

In the animation below, comet 3I/ATLAS appears as a faint white spot drifting downward near the center.

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That could potentially lead to some downward price action, which nevertheless may reverse once the ETFs are approved, she added.

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The first is the sharp slowdown to the monthly payroll numbers, including big downward revisions to previous months’ numbers.

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Machinery and pharmaceutical output also led the overall trend downward.

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The bank continues to see inflation averaging below target this year, but has made some downward adjustments for 2026 and 2027.

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Related Words

• descending www.thesaurus.com
• downwards