downstream

adverb or adjective down·stream \ ˈdau̇n-ˈstrēm \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Definition of downstream

1 : in the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream

floating downstream

located two miles downstream

2 : in or toward the latter stages of a usually industrial process or the stages (such as marketing) after manufacture

improving profits downstream

downstream products

3 biochemistry : toward the end of a series of cellular processes : following a linked molecular event occurring in a sequence

But by looking downstream of the tumor suppressors [genes] at the proteins they influence, drug developers hope to find good targets.
—Marcia Barinaga

See downstream defined for English-language learners

See downstream defined for kids

Recent Examples of downstream from the Web

The silliest animal, recklessly swimming downstream.

— ashleigh young, The Cut, "Ghost Knife," 2 July 2018
Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga. 30738 gastateparks.org Cochran Mill Falls Bear Creek tumbles over Cochran Mill Falls before rushing downstream over another smaller waterfall, Henry Mill Falls.

— eric champlin, ajc, "40 must-visit waterfalls in North Georgia," 14 June 2018
But downstream, all of those industries that rely on steel and aluminum to make their products, and of course all consumers who purchase these goods, are going to pay more.

— sean illing, Vox, "Why you should give a shit about Trump’s tariffs, explained by an economic historian," 6 July 2018
But just downstream, Camp Pollock had levels that met EPA criteria.

— cynthia hubert, sacbee, "Heading to the American River this week? Here's where E. coli levels are high," 3 July 2018
There’s something in the water of the Connecticut River, though, as less than eight miles downstream on the east side of the river is the home of former Gov. Lowell Weicker Jr., who lives in Old Lyme.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "From The Governor's Residence To Essex: Malloys Make Offer On House," 10 June 2018
Even inland trash can make its way into local waterways like rivers, creeks, and lakes or be washed downstream out to sea.

— mandy ferreira, Sunset, "9 Things You Can Do to Stop Ocean Plastic Pollution," 22 Jan. 2018
Authorities say Mario Benassi, 23, was swimming with a group of friends in the rapids about 300 feet downstream from the South Fork Bridge, over which Highway 49 runs.

— jordan cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "Yuba River rapids take another life near Highway 49," 27 June 2018
Dan Watson and his wife, Ann, manage Buck Creek R.V. Park, which is located about three miles downstream from the Lake Tahoma Dam.

— tim craig, Washington Post, "Immense rains are causing more flash flooding, and experts say it’s getting worse," 24 June 2018

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

First Known Use of downstream

1706

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Financial Definition of DOWNSTREAM

downstream

adverb or adjective

What It Is

Downstream refers to the benefits (or costs) that will ultimately result from decisions made today.

How It Works

In finance, a series of investments might be made with the anticipation that at a point in time in the future these efforts will yield a series of returns. These returns occur after the initial investments. As a result, they are referred to as downstream benefits. Similarly, investments can have downstream "costs" as well. The expectation is that the downstream benefits will outweigh the downstream costs.

At the same time, because the future is hard to predict, downstream effects are often unanticipated, setting off unintended costs and consequences.

Why It Matters

It is important to consider the "downstream" effects of an investment decision since it will impact ones future economic performance.

Source: Investing Answers

DOWNSTREAM Defined for English Language Learners

downstream

adverb

Definition of downstream for English Language Learners

: in the direction in which a stream, river, etc., flows

DOWNSTREAM Defined for Kids

downstream

adverb down·stream \ ˈdau̇n-ˈstrēm \

Definition of downstream for Students

: in the direction a stream is flowing

paddling downstream

Medical Dictionary

downstream

adverb or adjective down·stream \ ˌdau̇n-ˈstrēm \

medical Definition of downstream

1 : in the same direction along a molecule of DNA or RNA as that in which transcription and translation take place and toward the end having a hydroxyl group attached to the position labeled 3′ in the terminal nucleotide

a nucleotide sequence located downstream from the regulatory gene

effects on the expression of downstream genes

— compare upstream 1

2 : toward the end of a series of cellular processes : following a linked molecular event occurring in a sequence

But by looking downstream of the tumor suppressors [genes] at the proteins they influence, drug developers hope to find good targets.
—Marcia Barinaga, Science, 7 Nov. 1997

The tyrosine kinase activity of phosphorylated EGFR [epidermal growth factor receptor] in cancer cells results in the phosphorylation of downstream proteins that incite cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and inhibition of apoptosis.
—Jonathan E. Dowell and John D. Minna, The New England Journal of Medicine, 24 Feb. 2005