downriver

adverb or adjective

down·​riv·​er ˈdau̇n-ˈri-vər How to pronounce downriver (audio)
: toward or at a point nearer the mouth of a river

Examples of downriver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Scarcely had the trio pushed off than the Kentucky’s rapid current sped them downriver to the ominous north bank, where five warriors—three Shawnee and two Cherokee—snatched the girls and vanished into the forest. Peter Cozzens, WSJ, 27 Sep. 2021 The Superfund cleanup sites are downriver from the century-old plant, which for decades had released chemicals into the nearby waterways. Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 20 May 2020 On the Petaluma River, the ramp in Petaluma is open, yet the one just downriver at Black Point is closed; same river, different counties, different rules. Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, 24 Apr. 2020 Fishing in the entire Columbia is currently open through Feb. 29, then will close to all salmon, steelhead and shad fishing downriver from Warrior Rock, at the north end of Sauvie Island. oregonlive, 20 Feb. 2020 See All Example Sentences for downriver

Word History

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downriver was in 1760

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downriver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downriver. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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