top-down
adjective
1
: controlled, directed, or instituted from the top level
a top-down corporate structure
2
: proceeding by breaking large general aspects (as of a problem) into smaller more detailed constituents : working from the general to the specific
top-down programming
top-down design
Examples of top-down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But beyond the doom and gloom, China’s soccer future may no longer depend solely on top-down ambition.
—
Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
This evolution moves away from egocentric, top-down control toward an ecosystemic consciousness that centers on shared responsibility, psychological safety and societal fairness.
—Lourdes Mestre, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
For Restrepo, having a top-down approach to goalkeeping and set pieces is crucial for City to build upon the successes of this season, particularly with the introduction of full-time academies in England.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 31 May 2026
In retrospect, Internet culture always had to end like this, a radical bottom-up creativity meeting in the middle at the movie theater, the ultimate top-down gatekeeper.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for top-down
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Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
This evolution moves away from egocentric, top-down control toward an ecosystemic consciousness that centers on shared responsibility, psychological safety and societal fairness.
—Lourdes Mestre, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
For Restrepo, having a top-down approach to goalkeeping and set pieces is crucial for City to build upon the successes of this season, particularly with the introduction of full-time academies in England.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 31 May 2026
In retrospect, Internet culture always had to end like this, a radical bottom-up creativity meeting in the middle at the movie theater, the ultimate top-down gatekeeper.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for top-down
Cite this Entry
“Top-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-down. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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