downwash

noun

down·​wash ˈdau̇n-ˌwȯsh How to pronounce downwash (audio)
-ˌwäsh
: an airstream directed downward (as by an airfoil)

Examples of downwash in a Sentence

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.
By selectively activating these nozzles on one side of the aircraft or on sections of the wing, the AFC can instantly increase lift on one side by inducing roll, change the downwash at the rear to control pitch, or manipulate flow over the vertical surfaces to control yaw. New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2025 This airflow, known as downwash, can reach speeds of over 13 meters per second and disrupt the stability of the drone below. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025 The Osprey is hard to fly, especially if the aircraft enters a vortex ring state (VRS), a condition that affects helicopters and forces them to lose lift when entering their own downwash. Brad Dress, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2024 The drone flew so close that the helicopter’s downwash pushed the drone into the ground. Jonathan Rupprecht, Esq., Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024 Well after the curfew, protesters were still out on the streets, and video captured by CNN showed a military helicopter hovering over a group of them, kicking up strong wind and debris with its downwash. Oren Liebermann, CNN, 28 May 2021 The Osprey, with its two powerful tilting rotors, has a reputation for creating mayhem with its downwash. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 23 Apr. 2021 And then there is the downwash, or wind generated by the blades, which is a unique problem when filming a sailing race since the pilot must avoid interfering in the competition in any way. New York Times, 11 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downwash was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downwash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downwash. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!