download

1 of 2

noun

down·​load ˈdau̇n-ˌlōd How to pronounce download (audio)
computers
: an act or instance of transferring something (such as data or files) from a usually large computer to the memory of another device (such as a smaller computer) : an act or instance of downloading (see download entry 2) something
faster downloads
also : the item downloaded
two downloads

download

2 of 2

verb

downloaded; downloading; downloads

transitive verb

computers
: to transfer (data, files, etc.) from one location (such as a large computer or the cloud) to another (such as a smaller computer, smartphone, or storage device)
download the files onto your computer
downloading songs from the Internet
downloadable adjective

Examples of download in a Sentence

Noun The modem is capable of high-speed downloads. The download will take about three minutes. The program is available for download at the company's website. The downloads are all in this folder. Verb He downloaded the files onto his computer. She downloads songs from the Internet. The new program makes downloading faster.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Besides vinyl, there are digital downloads for $11.99, CDs for $12.99 or cassettes for $19.99. Bryan West, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 With faster data rates, users can enjoy seamless streaming, swift downloads and low-latency connections, elevating the user experience across various applications. Cristian Randieri, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 With 65% of downloads generated via social media and 30% of users coming from TikTok, this is a true 21st-century revolution for the cruise industry. Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Like the previous year, downloads and other digital revenue decreased in 2023 with a decrease of 49.2%, or 45.8% percent in constant currency. Thania Garcia, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024 That last guideline has particular relevance given the massive decrease in downloads across the industry resulting from a change in the way Apple iOS 17 handles automatic downloads. Ariel Shapiro, The Verge, 27 Feb. 2024 The one proposal both House and Senate liked was expanding the sales tax to digital products, so that a music download faces the same tax as buying a vinyl record. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 The Catholic prayer app aired its first commercial during the Super Bowl and saw the biggest spike in downloads in its history, CEO and Hallow co-founder Alex Jones told the Catholic News Agency. Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 Music downloads can also take up a large amount of system storage on your Mac. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
Rather than packing a suitcase full of books for your vacation, download them all to your Kindle library. Christopher Murray, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024 The bill is the latest threat to the app, which has been downloaded 170 million times in the United States despite critics’ concerns about data security and its Chinese connections. Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Among other things, people in Europe can download iPhone apps from stores that aren’t operated by Apple and are getting alternative ways to pay for in-app transactions. Michael Liedtke, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024 All drivers had to do was download an app, find a car and pay $2.50 for the first five minutes plus 40 cents an additional minute. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 However, once downloaded, its use is out of its creator's control. Lydia Morrish, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Citymapper is a great app to download to help navigate Paris’s public transport (its up-to-the-minute itinerary suggestions take line closures and strikes into account). Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024 Most Apple users discovered Journal had been downloaded automatically to their iPhone or iPad after the company updated its operating system to iOS 17.2. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Nintendo suggests in its complaint that it may have actually been damaged by Yuzu, too, alleging that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was illegally downloaded over a million times in early May 2023, while Yuzu’s Patreon membership doubled during that same period. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'download.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1975, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of download was in 1975

Dictionary Entries Near download

Cite this Entry

“Download.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/download. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

download

1 of 2 noun
down·​load
ˈdau̇n-ˌlōd
: an act or instance of transferring data from a usually large computer to the memory of another device (as a smaller computer)

download

2 of 2 verb
down·​load
: to transfer (data) from one location (as a large computer to another smaller computer or storage device)
downloadable
-ˌlōd-ə-bəl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on download

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