down·ward
ˈdau̇n-wərd 
variants
or downwards
1
a
: from a higher to a lower place
b
: toward a direction that is the opposite of up
2
: from a higher to a lower condition
3
a
: from an earlier time
b
: from an ancestor or predecessor
1
: moving or extending downward
2
: descending from a head, origin, or source
downwardly
adverb
downwardness
noun
Examples of downward in a Sentence
Adverb
The mountain streams flow downward to the lake.
Mud covered his pants from the knees downward.
Adjective
Sales continued their downward trend.
the downward revision of an estimate
Recent Examples on the Web
John Navin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
This is because the water shoots downward from the rim, and also because the rim itself acts as a shield around the bowl to keep water from coming up out of the bowl.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
But amid sweeping policy and personnel changes at the Justice Department, that downward trend seems poised to accelerate under President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward
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Adverb
The 50-day moving average has turned downward and appears about to cross below the 200-day moving average, signaling the intensity of the weakness.
—John Navin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
This is because the water shoots downward from the rim, and also because the rim itself acts as a shield around the bowl to keep water from coming up out of the bowl.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
The veterans organizations argued that veteran homelessness, which had been on a downward trend, has been exacerbated by the recent Palisades and Eaton fires.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025
But amid sweeping policy and personnel changes at the Justice Department, that downward trend seems poised to accelerate under President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward
Cite this Entry
“Downward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downward
1 of 2 adverb
down·ward
ˈdau̇n-wərd
variants
or downwards
1
: from a higher place or condition to a lower one
2
: from an earlier time
downward
2 of 2 adjective
: moving or reaching down
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