downtown

1 of 2

adjective

down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n How to pronounce downtown (audio)
Synonyms of downtownnext
1
: of, relating to, or located in the lower part or business center of a city or town
2
: hip, trendy
downtown music
downtown adverb

downtown

2 of 2

noun

: the lower part of a city or town
also : the main business district or central part of a city or town
downtowner noun

Examples of downtown in a Sentence

Adjective the downtown clientele of this bistro come to be seen, and the food is only an afterthought
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.
Adjective
The project was widely celebrated by stakeholders downtown as the mall was in desperate need of investment when Hendricks took over. Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 20 Nov. 2025 Politicians like County Supervisor Susie Wilson argued that places like House of Pizza gave people a reason to come downtown, and Mercury News columnists — including Steve Lopez, John Askins and Leigh Weimers — opined on the travesty. Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Much of the recruiting effort happens outside the conference center itself, at semisecret, invitation-only events in downtown San Diego. Alex Reisner, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2025 The search for the shooter paralyzed the campus, the nearby neighborhoods filled with stately brick homes and the downtown in Rhode Island’s capital city until a shelter-in-place order was lifted early Sunday. Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downtown

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downtown was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Downtown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtown. Accessed 18 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

downtown

1 of 2 adverb
down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n How to pronounce downtown (audio)
: to, toward, or in the main business district

downtown

2 of 2 adjective
-ˌtau̇n
: situated downtown

More from Merriam-Webster on downtown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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