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
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Drakon riders will climb to the top of a 75-foot-tall beyond-vertical first drop before navigating a zero-G stall and 270-degree roll with a downward dive.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward
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Adverb
Turnips and other root vegetables like potatoes and radishes all direct their growth to the same place—downward into the soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2026
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.
—Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
This would likely force World Liberty to sell WLFI tokens to repay the loan, exerting additional downward pressure on the token’s price.
—Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Drakon riders will climb to the top of a 75-foot-tall beyond-vertical first drop before navigating a zero-G stall and 270-degree roll with a downward dive.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downward
Cite this Entry
“Downward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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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