downward

1 of 2

adverb

down·​ward ˈdau̇n-wərd How to pronounce downward (audio)
variants or downwards
1
a
: from a higher to a lower place
b
: toward a direction that is the opposite of up
2
: from a higher to a lower condition
3
a
: from an earlier time
b
: from an ancestor or predecessor

downward

2 of 2

adjective

1
: moving or extending downward
2
: descending from a head, origin, or source
downwardly adverb
downwardness noun

Examples of downward in a Sentence

Adverb The mountain streams flow downward to the lake. Mud covered his pants from the knees downward. Adjective Sales continued their downward trend. the downward revision of an estimate
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.
Adverb
What to know about crime in Chicago Crime in Chicago has been trending mostly downward since the early 1990s, according to a review of Chicago Police Department annual crime reports. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, expectations for a comfortable retirement have shifted downward, according to research by Northwestern Mutual. Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The Curv 2 Pro vacuums with 25,000Pa of suction and mops with 12 Newtons of downward pressure. PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2025 This comes as the latest jobs report showed a slowing labor market with major downward revisions, reflecting a fragile job market for most industries. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downward

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downward was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

downward

1 of 2 adverb
down·​ward ˈdau̇n-wərd How to pronounce downward (audio)
variants or downwards
1
: from a higher place or condition to a lower one
2
: from an earlier time

downward

2 of 2 adjective
: moving or reaching down

Legal Definition

downward

1 of 2 adjective
down·​ward
: going from a higher to a lower level
a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines

downward

2 of 2 adverb
: from a higher to a lower level
instead of following the sentencing guidelines, the court departed downward

More from Merriam-Webster on downward

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