top-down

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈdau̇n 

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

From the booth, the coach views a top-down digital map of the entire fleet. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

China’s technology sector also operates within a far more top-down regulatory environment, with the government setting extensive rules governing what AI systems can produce and how they are deployed. — John Liu, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

And as to the top-down driving experience, the S/C is quite pleasant even at highway speeds. — Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026

Stone was the consummate anti-Boomer Boomer, his best work existing in opposition to the official stories propagated by a top-down media infoscape. — Darren Franich, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase from the top down

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for top-down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown