top-down
adjective
1
: controlled, directed, or instituted from the top level
a top-down corporate structure
2
: proceeding by breaking large general aspects (as of a problem) into smaller more detailed constituents : working from the general to the specific
top-down programming
top-down design
Examples of top-down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gone are the days when leaders could set rigid, top-down goals.
—
Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
For now, however, the top-down macro evidence seems clear: Americans are mostly paying for the tariffs.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 July 2025
This subtle yet profound shift from a top-down approach to a lateral partnership is fundamental to cultivating genuine inclusion.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
These elements often drive health care providers to provide care autocratically without patient engagement and modeling the top-down decision-making style now seen in our government.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-down
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Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
For now, however, the top-down macro evidence seems clear: Americans are mostly paying for the tariffs.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 23 July 2025
This subtle yet profound shift from a top-down approach to a lateral partnership is fundamental to cultivating genuine inclusion.
—Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
These elements often drive health care providers to provide care autocratically without patient engagement and modeling the top-down decision-making style now seen in our government.
—Dr. Howard A. Selinger, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-down
Cite this Entry
“Top-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-down. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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