Definition of down
(Entry 1 of 9)
1a(1)
: toward or in a lower physical position
Don't look down. Pull down the blind.
(2)
: to a lying or sitting position
Please sit down.
(3)
: toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom
burned the house down fell down
b
: as a down payment
paid $10 down
c
: on paper
put down what he says
2
: in a direction that is the opposite of up: such as
a
: southward
traveled down to South Africa
b
: to or toward a point away from the speaker or the speaker's point of reference
walked down to my neighbor's house
c
: in or into the stomach
can't keep food down
3
: to a lesser degree, level, or rate
cool down tensions Try to calm down.
4
: to or toward a lower position in a series
seems to be far down on their agenda moved down in the pop charts
5a
: to or in a lower or worse condition or status
held down by her lack of education
b
—used to indicate thoroughness or completion dusted down the housedescribed him down to his haircut
6
: from a past time
stories passed down by word of mouth
7
: to or in a state of less activity or prominence
scaled down our plans
8
: to a concentrated state
got the report down to three pages
9
: into defeat
voted the motion down
down to the ground
: perfectly, completely
that suits me down to the ground
down
prepositionDefinition of down (Entry 2 of 9)
: down (see down entry 1) along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on
fell down the stairs write down the phone number down the years grew up down the block from each other pacing up and down the room
down
verb
downed; downing; downs
Definition of down (Entry 3 of 9)
1
: to cause to go or come down (see down entry 1) : such as
a
: to cause to fall by or as if by shooting : bring down sense 1
downed the enemy helicopter
b
: consume sense 3
downing slices of pizza
2
football
: to cause (a ball) to be out of play
downed the ball at the five-yard line
3
: defeat
down a proposal
: to go down
down
adjectiveDefinition of down (Entry 4 of 9)
1a(1)
: occupying a low position
specifically
: lying on the ground
down timber
(2)
: directed or going downward
attendance is down
b
: lower in price
c
football
: not being in play because of wholly stopped progress or because the officials stop the play
The ball was down.
d
: defeated or trailing an opponent (as in points scored)
down by two runs
2a
: reduced or low in activity, frequency, or intensity
a down economy
b
: not operating or able to function
The computer is down.
c
: depressed, dejected
feeling a bit down
also
: depressing
a down movie
d
: sick
down with flu
4
: completely mastered
had her lines down
—often used with pat got the answers down pat
b
slang
: understanding or supportive of something or someone
—usually used with with trying to prove that they were down with hip-hop culture— J. E. White
6
: being on record
you're down for two tickets
down on
down on one's luck
: having a low opinion of or dislike for
The coach has been down on him lately.
: experiencing misfortune and especially financial distress
down
noun (1)Definition of down (Entry 5 of 9)
1
: descent, depression
emotional ups and downs the ups and downs of the business cycle
2
: an instance of putting down someone (such as an opponent in wrestling)
3
football
a
: a complete play to advance the ball
b
: one of a series of four attempts in American football or three attempts in Canadian football to advance the ball 10 yards
caught the ball on third down
5
: downer
down
noun (2)Definition of down (Entry 6 of 9)
down
noun (3)Definition of down (Entry 7 of 9)
1
: a covering of soft fluffy feathers
also
: these feathers
goose down pillows
2
: something soft and fluffy like down
a trace of down on his cheeks
Down
noun (4)Definition of Down (Entry 8 of 9)
: down syndrome
—usually used attributively a Down baby
Down
geographical nameDefinition of Down (Entry 9 of 9)
1
district of southeastern Northern Ireland bordering the Irish Sea; established 1974 area 250 square miles (650 square kilometers), population 69,750
2
traditional county of southeastern Northern Ireland
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Who Knew?
-
- What is a ruelle?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share down
Time Traveler for down
The first known use of down was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century