downstate

noun down·state \ -ˌstāt \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of downstate

: the chiefly southerly sections of a state; also : the chiefly rural part of a state when the major metropolitan area is to the north

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downstate

play \-ˈstāt\ adjective or adverb

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downstater

play \-ˈstā-tər\ noun

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Recent Examples of downstate from the Web

Temperatures are likely to creep into the 50s later in the week, and perhaps up into the 70s downstate.

— joseph spector, USA TODAY, "Happy Spring: Temperatures fell to 6 degrees in New York," 9 Apr. 2018
Lipke became principal of Long Beach Elementary in July 2007, after serving as principal of downstate Jamaica Elementary School.

— sarah freishtat, Aurora Beacon-News, "Ex-Montgomery principal charged in South Carolina for sex with minor had complaint filed in Kendall County," 24 Feb. 2018
For that matter, there’s Chicago against downstate Illinois, and New York City versus upstate New York.

— steve kurtz, Fox News, "Are some states headed for Splitsville? Movement grows to allow sections of states to break away," 19 Mar. 2018
After heading downstate as a freshman, Duty ended his season at regionals last season.

— bob narang, Lake County News-Sun, "Call of Duty: North Chicago junior wrestler aims to return to state," 8 Feb. 2018
The winter weather that caused drivers trouble in Kansas City wreaked more havoc downstate as dozens of vehicles crashed and shut down Interstate 44 east of Rolla, Mo.

— joe robertson, kansascity, "Multiple crashes in snow, ice shut down I-44; one dead," 4 Feb. 2018
Kennedy, a businessman, is the most popular candidate downstate, according to the poll.

— kate shepherd, Chicago Reader, "News / Did You Read __________? Rauner delivers his final State of the State address with an eye to November elections, and other Chicago news," 31 Jan. 2018
Meals were provided in the residence halls Monday night and on Tuesday until 5 p.m. For students living downstate, a coach bus will be available to drop students off in Bloomington, Springfield and Fairview Heights.

— staff report, Aurora Beacon-News, "Flu outbreak closes IMSA in Aurora for the week," 22 Jan. 2018
Earlier in the day, Amelia Love walked up and down the aisle and handed out snacks to the 40-or-so people who boarded a bus that stopped in Portage and Merrillville to go downstate.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "'So much we have to march for': Northwest Indiana residents go downstate for Indianapolis Women's March," 20 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downstate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of downstate

1909

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downstate

noun

Definition of downstate for English Language Learners

: the southern part of a state

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downstate

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downstate

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