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

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell last week to 6.19%, its lowest level measured by Freddie Mac in over a year, after trending downward this autumn.

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But it turns out Jones was exactly the missing piece that the Colts offense needed—and that Indianapolis offered Jones everything he had lacked as his career spiraled downward.

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Now, this harvesting can clearly put additional downward pressure on already badly performing stocks.

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While traders envision a clean downward arc for rates, Fed officials are sketching something messier—slower cuts with long pauses between moves.

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While traders envision a clean downward arc for rates, Fed officials are sketching something messier—slower cuts with long pauses between moves.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• descending www.thesaurus.com
• downwards