downtown

1 of 2

adjective

down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n 

1

: of, relating to, or located in the lower part or business center of a city or town

2

: hip, trendy

downtown music

downtown adverb

downtown

2 of 2

noun

down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n  ˈdau̇n-ˌtau 

: the lower part of a city or town

also : the main business district or central part of a city or town

downtowner

ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇-nər 

noun

Synonyms of downtown

Adjective

• hip
• now
• fashionable
• in
• stylish
• trendy
• chic

Examples of downtown in a Sentence

Adjective

the downtown clientele of this bistro come to be seen, and the food is only an afterthought

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Now that Time, Inc. and Condé Nast are both downtown, though, their surrounding neighborhood required great hotel bars for those with expense accounts and a story to tell. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2026

The Royals want to be downtown, and it’s received much of their energy. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026

Noun

Police are searching for a straphanger suspected of unbolting a door switch from a inside a downtown C train Monday evening, snipping the wires and then absconding with the train part, sources tell the Daily News. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026

Cowiche Creek Brewing Company Set in Cowiche, just west of downtown Yakima, Cowiche Creek Brewing Company is run by third-generation central Washington farmers who built much of the brewery themselves and grow their own hops. —Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 14 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for downtown

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

Kids Definition

downtown

1 of 2 adverb

down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n 

: to, toward, or in the main business district

downtown

2 of 2 adjective

-ˌtau̇n

: situated downtown