countdown

noun

count·​down ˈkau̇nt-ˌdau̇n 

: an audible backward counting in fixed units (such as seconds) from an arbitrary starting number to mark the time remaining before an event

also : preparations carried on during such a count

count down

ˈkau̇nt-ˈdau̇n 

intransitive verb

Examples of countdown in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That news was relayed to a capacity crowd at Hillsborough, cheering the countdown from 15 to zero on the scoreboard. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Swap your regular kitchen calendar for a cute Halloween countdown calendar kids can track each morning. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026

The countdown to the first day of school is on, and now is the time to start making some adjustments. — John Shumway, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Let your child eat, get dressed and get ready without a countdown hanging over the morning, according to PBS. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for countdown

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown
• knockdown

Kids Definition

countdown

noun

count·​down ˈkau̇nt-ˌdau̇n 

: the process of counting off backward in fixed units (as seconds) the time remaining before an event (as the launching of a rocket)