down-low
noun
Phrases
the down-low
: a state or condition of secrecy
—usually used in the phrase on the down-low
Alcindor was able to keep his drug use on the down-low, but Allen was not so lucky.—
Seth Davis
Seth DavisThe spot was called Houston's. Dimly lit, it was a restaurant on the down-low.—Sister Souljah
—abbreviation DL
Sister SouljahExamples of down-low in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Peeke and Hampus Lindholm duplicated down-low coverage on Ohgren.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Wiener, in his on-the-down-low shadow campaign, has raised a bit over $1 million, not nearly enough.
—Anita Chabria, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Really a drug dealer on the down-low.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Here are five takeaways about how the venue kept the concert on the down-low, what Kelly wore and the odds of an MGK tour.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Travis and his new girlfriend Taylor are keeping things on the down-low.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 June 2025
Minahan reduces the period story to cosmetics rather than capturing the down-low essence of the pre-Stonewall era.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
Club 33 stays on the down-low with discreet rules and a dress code.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
Wiener, in his on-the-down-low shadow campaign, has raised a bit over $1 million, not nearly enough.
—Anita Chabria, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025
Really a drug dealer on the down-low.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Here are five takeaways about how the venue kept the concert on the down-low, what Kelly wore and the odds of an MGK tour.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile, Travis and his new girlfriend Taylor are keeping things on the down-low.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 June 2025
Minahan reduces the period story to cosmetics rather than capturing the down-low essence of the pre-Stonewall era.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Apr. 2025
Club 33 stays on the down-low with discreet rules and a dress code.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Down-low.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down-low. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share