downier; downiest
1
: resembling a bird's down
2
: covered with down
3
: made of down
4

Examples of downy in a Sentence

the downy surface of a ripe peach
Recent Examples on the Web Dreijer sings, their voice coated in a downy, fungal film. Pitchfork, 12 Dec. 2023 The thick sycamore leaf is the toughest, the beech is soft, ruckled, with tiny hairs like a downy skin, whilst the hawthorn is as coarse, textured, and dense as the silver birch is thin and slippery cool. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2023 Cashmere Cashmere, an exceptionally soft fiber, is taken from the superfine, downy undercoat of the Kashmir goat. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2023 Unlike their parents, whose sleek black-and-white feathers seal their skin against the frigid ocean, chicks’ downy plumage isn’t waterproof. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023 But framed by downy keyboards, the lyrics gently hammer. 21. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2023 This showy plant has origins in the Mediterranean region, and it's prized for its downy leaves, purple blooms, and strong, heady fragrance. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 26 June 2023 Since their skull is flexible, your little one's downy head has already survived a pretty rough ride with no harm done. Denise Schipani, Parents, 22 June 2023 The large swans, which have eight-foot wingspans and snow-white feathers, require cold, clear, pristine lakes and ponds to breed and brood their downy gray cygnets. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 10 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of downy was in 1551

Dictionary Entries Near downy

Cite this Entry

“Downy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

downy

adjective
downier; downiest
1
: resembling a bird's down
2
: covered with or made of down

More from Merriam-Webster on downy

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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