downstage

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

down·​stage ˈdau̇n-ˈstāj 

1

: toward or at the front of a theatrical stage

2

: toward a motion-picture or television camera

downstage

2 of 2

noun

down·​stage ˈdau̇n-ˌstāj 

: the part of a stage that is nearest the audience or camera

Examples of downstage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Can anyone ever shake us to the core the way Brando did simply by walking downstage eating an apple? —Ty Burr, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024

The same is true of the physical production, which glistens in the reflection of a downstage water’s edge, below a canopy of A-frames and vertical fluorescent bulbs glowing like stationary falling stars (the set is by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis, the lighting by Ben Stanton). —Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

Greif’s staging adds visual flair, framing the stars in stylish silhouettes and using a pool of water downstage to shower them in shimmering reflections. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

With a high chain-link fence awkwardly shoving much of the action to a thin strip downstage, the first act takes place outside a factory making weapons, rather than the libretto’s cigarettes. —Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2024

For example, as Mowgli prepared to shoot a bow and arrow, the moments learning how to do so with her mother were projected onto a downstage screen. —Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

Barely acknowledging the applause and cheers, Shorter stepped to a conga downstage. —Jon Garelick, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2023

At the finale, the entire cast and both designers brought out chairs and posed as a group, Christmas-card style, downstage. —Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Feb. 2023

At one point, there’s a misplaced spotlight, illuminating nobody, and a performer well downstage of it, looking at it like a member of the audience, regards the empty circle with something resembling suspicion. —Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1793, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1931, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

downstage

adverb or adjective

down·​stage

ˈdau̇n-ˈstāj

: toward or at the part of a theatrical stage or set closest to the audience or the motion-picture or television camera