download

1 of 2

noun

down·​load ˈdau̇n-ˌlōd 

computers

: an act or instance of transferring something (such as data or files) from a usually large computer to the memory of another device (such as a smaller computer) : an act or instance of downloading (see download entry 2) something

faster downloads

also : the item downloaded

two downloads

download

2 of 2

verb

downloaded; downloading; downloads

transitive verb

computers

: to transfer (data, files, etc.) from one location (such as a large computer or the cloud) to another (such as a smaller computer, smartphone, or storage device)

download the files onto your computer

downloading songs from the Internet

downloadable

ˈdau̇n-ˌlō-də-bəl 

adjective

Examples of download in a Sentence

Noun

The modem is capable of high-speed downloads.

The download will take about three minutes.

The program is available for download at the company's website.

The downloads are all in this folder.

Verb

He downloaded the files onto his computer.

She downloads songs from the Internet.

The new program makes downloading faster.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Narrated by Cup & Nuzzle founder and BBC 6 Music presenter Matt Everitt, the two-and-a-half-hour documentary will be released alongside the compilation and is available as part of the deluxe Happy Tears bundle or as a standalone download. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 30 Sep. 2026

And even with Muse racking up millions of downloads across app stores, that doesn’t mean people are actively using it or other AI agents, Waldmann said. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

Verb

Tap the offer link to download the app and open theScore Bet sign-up page. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

In contrast to proprietary models from the likes of OpenAI and Anthropic, open-weight alternatives are often a fraction the cost and can be downloaded, tweaked and stored on the infrastructure of choice. — Kate Rooney, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1977, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for download

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad

Kids Definition

download

1 of 2 noun

down·​load ˈdau̇n-ˌlōd 

: an act or instance of transferring data from a usually large computer to the memory of another device (as a smaller computer)

download

2 of 2 verb

down·​load

: to transfer (data) from one location (as a large computer to another smaller computer or storage device)

downloadable

-ˌlōd-ə-bəl 

adjective