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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have downloaded
  perfect
• has downloaded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• downloading
  participle
• downloads
  singular 3rd person
• are downloading
  progressive
• have been downloading
  perfect progressive
• is downloading
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been downloading
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am downloading
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had downloaded
  perfect
• downloaded
  simple
• had been downloading
  perfect progressive
• were downloading
  progressive plural
• downloaded
  participle
• was downloading
  progressive singular

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

"Good signal" was measured as a download speed of five megabits per second, an upload speed of 1.5 megabits per second, and a response time of 50 milliseconds.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

To install a VPN app, download it from the provider’s website or, for mobile devices, from the device’s app store, then install it on the device.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

"I thought, 'I'm going to download the app and give it a try. If nothing happens, it doesn't matter because nothing else is working out for me. But what if something does happen?'" he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

“Our process was to download from Kane’s brain,” said lead executive Adelson.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Felix clicked download, and a few seconds later, a giant dollar sign spun on the screen with the words Penny Doubled Challenge pulsing beneath.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Related Words

• load
• log in