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
Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
Not only did employers add a disappointing 73,000 jobs – well below the 105,000 expected – but payroll gains for May and June were revised downward by a whopping 258,000.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
More concerning, however, were downward revisions to April and May’s numbers, suggesting the labor market may be weaker than previously thought.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downward
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Adverb
However, unemployment ticked up to 4.2%, only 73,000 new jobs were created last month, and the employment numbers for May and June were revised downward substantially.
—Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 2 Aug. 2025
Not only did employers add a disappointing 73,000 jobs – well below the 105,000 expected – but payroll gains for May and June were revised downward by a whopping 258,000.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Earnings Guidance Collapse One of the most troubling aspects for investors has been the drastic downward revision of earnings expectations.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
More concerning, however, were downward revisions to April and May’s numbers, suggesting the labor market may be weaker than previously thought.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Aug. 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 7 Aug. 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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