downward

American  

[doun-werd] / ˈdaʊn wərd /

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.

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adjective

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

2. descending from a source or beginning.

downward British  

/ ˈdaʊnwəd /

adjective

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

2. descending from a beginning

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adverb

1. a variant of downwards

Other Word Forms

• downwardly adverb
• downwardness noun

Etymology

Origin of downward

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

Example Sentences

The widening spreads, if they persist, could narrow BDC interest margins and put downward pressure on dividends.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Recessions are generally characterized, in the first instance, by the substitution of a sudden, sharp, upward movement in the unemployment rate for a gradual downward or sideways movement.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Brickell says holding your head at a 45-degree downward angle while scrolling is like supporting a 49-pound weight with your neck.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The downward trend extends the loss of 42,000 jobs in L.A. between 2022 and 2024, the continued suffering of local sound stages and the offshoring of productions internationally.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

Roz waded through the mid-ocean shallows until the road sloped downward and she descended beneath the surface, where she found more signs of civilization.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• descending
• downwards