top-down
adjective
1
: controlled, directed, or instituted from the top level
a top-down corporate structure
2
: proceeding by breaking large general aspects (as of a problem) into smaller more detailed constituents : working from the general to the specific
top-down programming
top-down design
Examples of top-down in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This top-down push to efficiently set up the entire supply chain was indispensable, Mr. Yang said.
—
John Liu, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In addition to the book’s top-down anxieties about the coming managerial overclass, a bottom-up anxiety about how fragile solitude is—irreducible to an abstract right or a material good—permeates 1984.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
This empowerment is reciprocal when shared within the workplace rather than a top-down grant of power.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The French Revolution failed because the élites tried to force top-down change, but the Glorious Revolution—which might better be described as a coup by Dutch commercial interests—somehow reflected a wise acquiescence to bottom-up processes.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
The lack of clear top-down instruction — state workers have previously told The Sacramento Bee — led to inconsistencies and confusion between some agencies and departments.
—Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Pat the apple dry Then dip the apples top-down into the candy melts, set them on wax paper, and cover them with sprinkles.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
The review will focus on ways the state can speed up license processing times and allow businesses to open faster, as well as a top-down assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management's structure and systems.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024
The hotel has quietly been completing a top-down refresh of the most exclusive suites within this 4,004-room campus.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
John Liu, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024
In addition to the book’s top-down anxieties about the coming managerial overclass, a bottom-up anxiety about how fragile solitude is—irreducible to an abstract right or a material good—permeates 1984.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
This empowerment is reciprocal when shared within the workplace rather than a top-down grant of power.
—Kathy Miller Perkins, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The French Revolution failed because the élites tried to force top-down change, but the Glorious Revolution—which might better be described as a coup by Dutch commercial interests—somehow reflected a wise acquiescence to bottom-up processes.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
The lack of clear top-down instruction — state workers have previously told The Sacramento Bee — led to inconsistencies and confusion between some agencies and departments.
—Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024
Pat the apple dry Then dip the apples top-down into the candy melts, set them on wax paper, and cover them with sprinkles.
—Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024
The review will focus on ways the state can speed up license processing times and allow businesses to open faster, as well as a top-down assessment of the Office of Cannabis Management's structure and systems.
—Anthony Izaguirre, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024
The hotel has quietly been completing a top-down refresh of the most exclusive suites within this 4,004-room campus.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'top-down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near top-down
Cite this Entry
“Top-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-down. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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