download

American  

[doun-lohd] / ˈdaʊnˌloʊd /

verb (used with object)

downloads, present (3rd person singular) downloaded, past participle, past downloading present participle

1. to transfer (software, data, character sets, etc.) from a distant to a nearby computer, from a larger to a smaller computer, or from a computer to a peripheral device.

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noun

downloads plural

1. software, data, etc., that has been downloaded.

   the best free music downloads.

2. the act or process of downloading.

download British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌləʊd /

verb

1. to copy or transfer (data or a program) into the memory of one computer system from a larger one

2. to broadcast specialist programmes, for such groups as doctors, outside normal broadcasting hours. They are often recorded on video tapes and viewed later Compare upload

3. to delegate or assign (work, responsibilities, costs, etc) to a someone at a lower level of an organization; off-load

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noun

1. a file transferred onto a computer from another computer or the internet

download Scientific  

/ doun′lōd′ /

1. To transfer data or programs from a server or host computer to one's own computer or digital device.

2. Compare upload

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• downloadable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• downloads
  plural

Participles

• downloading
  present
• downloaded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• download
  simple
• downloads
  simple
• have downloaded
  perfect
• has downloaded
  perfect
• am downloading
  progressive
• are downloading
  progressive
• is downloading
  progressive
• have been downloading
  perfect progressive
• has been downloading
  perfect progressive

Past

• downloaded
  simple
• had downloaded
  perfect
• was downloading
  progressive
• were downloading
  progressive
• had been downloading
  perfect progressive

Future

• will download
  simple
• will have downloaded
  perfect
• will be downloading
  progressive
• will have been downloading
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of download

down ¹ + load

Explanation

When you've got files on one computer that you need to transfer onto another, you'll need to download or copy the data onto a portable drive to move it. Back before the internet brought the world to our fingers, the word download was used mainly to describe the process of copying files or data from one computer to another. But these days, you can download or copy, just about anything from the internet — from music to movies to books. Another thing you can download, if you aren't careful, is a virus, so be wary before you go transferring all kinds of files to your computer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

download downloads downloaded downloading

Clubs now use digital systems where fans download tickets to their phones.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

It plans to make the model open-weight soon, meaning it will be available for developers to download and modify.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

That means “anyone, anywhere, can download it and build on top of it for free,” Mark Malek, CIO of Siebert Financial told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

There will be a box at some stores, yes, but it contains a download code, not a disc.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

I can connect the device to a computer and download any song I want.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper

The FT’s article reports that the Chinese government discussed restricting the transfer of important data abroad and limiting the downloads of models by foreign users.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

The podcast version, available on platforms including Apple and Spotify, has topped one billion downloads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Some downloads, it says, were coordinated among several Meta IP addresses, all based on the same algorithmic keywords and occurring simultaneously, suggesting that the infringements “took place within Meta’s walls.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

We evaluated streaming performance and P2P behavior by running downloads and streaming concurrently to observe throttling and buffering.

From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2026

“I have a present for you, Petra. I couldn’t get your curriculum approved, but since you’re technically old enough for more downloads, and these are off the record...”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

It has been downloaded more than a billion times across iOS and Android devices, with millions still logging on each day.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

I downloaded an app that mapped out my route and where I should charge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

Digital tickets must be downloaded and activated before boarding the train to be valid.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

In all, Strike 3 alleges, those Meta addresses downloaded at least 2,396 of its movies — almost its entire catalog — more than 6,000 times via BitTorrent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

I was listening to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” which I’d downloaded the night before.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks

The integration allows drivers to access Google Maps directly through the vehicle’s navigation system without downloading the app or relying on smartphone mirroring.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

It also argued that customers were in no way forced to use its products on Android and that downloading competing apps was just a tap away.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

One is that Meta, the giant social media company, is accused of copyright infringement for allegedly downloading 2,400 of the plaintiff’s movies to train its AI bots.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

But Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has said it wants age verification to be handled on a device level, so underage children would be blocked from downloading certain apps.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

I fly through the reams of data for each of them, downloading and storing, organizing them into folders.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• load
• log in