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

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

It was started after 9/11 to bring people downtown, to bring audiences together. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 4 June 2025

Rocking 52 Boise venues — primarily downtown — the 13th edition of Treefort featured more than 420 acts and 790 official events (plus more unofficial ones). —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 11 Apr. 2025

Noun

Nashville Church of Christ, a nonprofit, acquired property of former downtown congregation Central Church of Christ through merger, and ceased in-person worship gatherings. —Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025

Federal, state, city and local leaders joined together in Cincinnati on Aug. 19 to discuss recent violent crime, prevention and the viral brawl that broke out downtown in late July. —Brenda Ordonez, The Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025

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