down 1 of 6

Definition of downnext
1
as in downward
toward or in a lower position the stairs went down to the basement

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in away
from this or that place came down from New York for the weekend

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down

2 of 6

adjective

1
2
as in lowered
directed down a down escalator

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3
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness feeling a bit down

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4
5
6

down

3 of 6

noun (1)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering a comforter filled with goose down

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down

4 of 6

noun (2)

1
as in accident
something (as a situation or event) that is depressing lately it's been one down after another in my life

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2
3
4
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude suffered with a psychological disorder in which she alternated between emotional ups and downs

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5

down

5 of 6

noun (3)

down

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verb

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of down
Adverb
Penn State got the ball back with 35 seconds and one timeout, down 27-24, but couldn't get into field goal range, and a Hail Mary attempt fell short. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025 And a fourth was a down-on-his-luck bus driver. NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Can Lamar Jackson put a happy bow on what has been a down season for him? Greg Cote january 1, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026 Zippered pockets Most down vests feature zippered pockets on both sides. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
The this-is-how-they-get-down-in-my-city rap song doesn’t ever get played out. Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 9 Jan. 2026 The kicker’s ups and downs mirrored the Rebels’ night in the desert, one that ended with the Hurricanes heading home to play for a championship. John Marshall, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Report downed power lines to the police. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025 Video posted by Jamaica’s Constabulary Force in Black River, near where the eye came ashore, show snarled and downed power lines, piles of debris and many buildings completely collapsed — all on a street still covered in water. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down
Adverb
  • Thirty-four people remain missing, according to Archival, revising downward a tally of 38 given earlier on his Facebook page.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Measles symptoms can appear between seven and 21 days after exposure and may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, white spots inside the mouth and a red blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads downward.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Visitors can get an up-close look at these plants at Carolina Beach State Park or the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • In the photo carousel, Kardashian shared an up-close look of both the front and back of the thong suit, which was also worn with a blue long-sleeve shirt and maroon tie.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Even with lowered rents, The Grand’s residents aren’t staying long.
    David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
  • This was highlighted by the fact that Psyche’s April 2024 message – beamed from a distance of 225 million kilometers – reached Earth at a lowered 25 megabits per second.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Countries such as the Netherlands and Canada that passed similar bills have gone on to expand this type of legislation to allow doctors to give lethal medication to the depressed and other people with mental illnesses.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2026
  • Yes, our political leaders have given some of us reason to be resentful, cynical and even depressed.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • This leaves a sicker risk pool behind and drives premiums even higher for those who remain.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Humans who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are the most at risk of becoming infected.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Other Republicans say the criticism of the party’s performance is overkill, noting that the major elections of the evening took place in blue-leaning states during an off-year election.
    Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Superstar Victor Wembanyama had an off night, scoring just nine points to go with nine rebounds and four blocks.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Thus far, Arsenal’s excellent form has relegated the injuries to a subplot.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The carbon nanofiber provides mechanical stability, abundant pore channels, and excellent electrolyte wettability, while the cobalt sites catalyze the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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