Definition of downward
1a : from a higher to a lower placeb : toward a direction that is the opposite of up
2 : from a higher to a lower condition
3a : from an earlier timeb : from an ancestor or predecessor
Read the Latest from M-W
Examples of downward in a Sentence
The mountain streams flow downward to the lake.
Mud covered his pants from the knees downward.
First Known Use of downward
13th century
downward
Definition of downward
1 : moving or extending downward
2 : descending from a head, origin, or source
downwardly
adverbdownwardness
nounExamples of downward in a Sentence
Sales continued their downward trend.
the downward revision of an estimate
Recent Examples of downward from the Web
-
Everyone gets really sweaty (the room is not ventilated) doing jumping jacks and burpees and sit-ups, with the occasional downward dog thrown in.
-
Meanwhile, vehicle ownership rates are already on a downward trajectory, whether measured as cars per person, per driver, or per household.
-
But rapidly rising production in North America put downward pressure on prices and in November 2014 OPEC refused to cut production.
-
Before recently leaving Orlando to visit family in the Midwest and enrolling at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, Winter discussed his downward spiral with the Orlando Sentinel.
-
In a downward spiral, Kevin returns home to stay with his widowed twin sister (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) and niece.
-
This will require a steep downward curve from our present level.
-
Monthly payroll gains are averaging 162,000 this year, a step down from the 2016 pace of 187,000, following a below-forecast rise last month and downward revisions to March and April in Labor Department figures released Friday.
-
Lift you to safety when the downward pull of quicksand is mightiest.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downward.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of downward
circa 1552
DOWNWARD Defined for English Language Learners
downward
playDefinition of downward for English Language Learners
-
: from a higher place or level to a lower place or level
-
: toward the ground, floor, etc. : not up
-
: toward people with less power, money, etc.
downward
Definition of downward for English Language Learners
-
: moving or going from a higher place or level to a lower place or level
-
: moving or going toward the ground, floor, etc.
-
: changing to a smaller amount or lower number
DOWNWARD Defined for Kids
downwards
\-wərdz\Definition of downward for Students
: from a higher place, amount, or level to a lower one The company's sales continue to go downward. Still the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood. — Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Definition of downward for Students
: going or moving from a higher place, amount, or level to a lower one a downward slope
Law Dictionary
downward
Legal Definition of downward
: going from a higher to a lower level a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines
downward
Legal Definition of downward
: from a higher to a lower level instead of following the sentencing guidelines, the court departed downward
Learn More about downward
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for downward Spanish Central: Translation of downward Nglish: Translation of downward for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of downward for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up downward? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!