top-down

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈdau̇n 

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

The protests erupted after nearly a decade of Macronisme, the right-of-center, top-down governing style that President Emmanuel Macron of France incarnates. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Instead, we have been stonewalled by Cornell's increasingly top-down leadership. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

But the company recently settled a class action lawsuit that made public reams of evidence showing that Mazal Group is directly involved in store operations and sets top-down policies that impact shoppers. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026

This mantra helps guide all employees around a core objective, rather than directing staff through top-down initiatives. — Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase from the top down

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for top-down

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