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

Bass said her review would be a top-down evaluation that also scrutinizes the roles of dispatchers, supervisors and others involved in responding to reports of people behaving erratically. — Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Yet, under current leadership, our role is largely reduced to convening twice a year to rubber-stamp an existing top-down agenda. — Caitlin Ogden, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026

Some China analysts have raised concerns about the unusually top-down diplomatic arrangement between the two economic superpowers. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

From the booth, the coach views a top-down digital map of the entire fleet. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 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