countdown

noun

count·​down ˈkau̇nt-ˌdau̇n 

: an audible backward counting in fixed units (such as seconds) from an arbitrary starting number to mark the time remaining before an event

also : preparations carried on during such a count

count down

ˈkau̇nt-ˈdau̇n 

intransitive verb

Examples of countdown in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An umpteenth countdown on Saturday revealed another variant drop, her ninth. —Bryan West, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025

Puerto Rican rapper and Saturday Night Live host Bad Bunny mocked right-wing backlash to his upcoming Spanish-only Super Bowl halftime show, and started the countdown clock for anyone who doesn’t know the language. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 5 Oct. 2025

And make sure to check out our countdown of her 30 best songs, from solo hits to classics by Buckingham Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Oct. 2025

However, a different vibe soon filled the arena once the countdown clock reached zero and a video charting Kirk's career from 18-year-old organizer to one of the GOP’s most prominent activists came on-screen. —Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for countdown

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

Kids Definition

countdown

noun

count·​down ˈkau̇nt-ˌdau̇n 

: the process of counting off backward in fixed units (as seconds) the time remaining before an event (as the launching of a rocket)