downward
Americanadverb
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Also downwards. from a higher to a lower place or condition.
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down from a source or beginning.
As the river flows downward, it widens.
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from a past time, predecessor, or ancestor.
The estate was handed downward from generation to generation.
adjective
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moving or tending to a lower place or condition.
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descending from a source or beginning.
adjective
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descending from a higher to a lower level, condition, position, etc
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descending from a beginning
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of downward
1150–1200; Middle English dounward, aphetic variant of adounward, Old English adūnweard. See down 1, -ward
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.
The sharp rise in borrowing costs added to downward momentum in chip stocks, which dragged on blue-chip indexes across Asia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Since June, there has been a downward trend in the number of vacant spaces.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
The economy may soon start surprising to the downside: That’s because several forces have been putting downward pressure on growth.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
Still, the energy index overall was 1.5 percent lower than a month ago, indicating a downward trajectory for prices of those commodities as talks to end the war continue.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
She tried to mask the downward spiral of the conversation with a sympathetic smile, but we both knew what the ultimate outcome could end up being.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
