down 1 of 6

1
as in downward
toward or in a lower position the stairs went down to the basement

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in away
from this or that place came down from New York for the weekend

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down

2 of 6

adjective

1
2
as in lowered
directed down a down escalator

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3
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness feeling a bit down

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4
5
6

down

3 of 6

noun (1)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering a comforter filled with goose down

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down

4 of 6

noun (2)

1
as in accident
something (as a situation or event) that is depressing lately it's been one down after another in my life

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2
3
4
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude suffered with a psychological disorder in which she alternated between emotional ups and downs

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5

down

5 of 6

noun (3)

down

6 of 6

verb

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of down
Adverb
When the woman's labor quickly began to progress, a quick-thinking hospital midwife jumped into action, throwing towels onto a couch and laying the then-expectant mother down on it. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025 Once the chips are down, though, McConaughey effortlessly switches up to action mode, and the film starts to resemble a fever dream of Speed. Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
My limbs, arranged somewhere between a high-plank and a down-dog, shook, and my ego melted away. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 29 Aug. 2025 In front of me Elis Holmes trudged along, picking out the best going, searching for moose paths that led around the worst of the down stuff, breaking trail through the thimbleberries. Ben East, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Russell Wilson #3 of the New York Giants looks on after turning the ball over on downs against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 The first season ended with Leanne reflecting on her recent ups and downs after welcoming another grandchild to her family via her son, Tyler, and his wife, Nora (Annie Gonzalez). Caroline Blair, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Pentagon has deployed unmanned aircraft for spying missions over the Black Sea, with one drone downed by a Russian fighter jet in March 2023. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025 This one-two weather combo caused widespread power outages, traffic light issues, downed trees and flooding on roadways. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, expectations for a comfortable retirement have shifted downward, according to research by Northwestern Mutual.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • As the slab sinks downwards at a steep angle, large portions or rock break off from the slab’s tip.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • This little case keeps rings, necklaces, and earrings neatly tucked away, so nothing gets tangled—or worse, left behind.
    Kayla Kitts, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The main airport is on the Dutch side and known for its incredible plane spotting with the chance to see low-flying aircraft right from the nearby beach and snap memorable photos from the ocean or the sand with an up-close plane in the background.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
  • More than a parade, the Tour brings the cars into the streets and communities of the Monterey Peninsula, offering rare, up-close access to both machines and drivers.
    Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Most commonly that’s expressed as a shrinking number of cable viewers and the lowered subscription and ad revenue that comes with it.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
  • And a meta-analysis of 196 scientific articles published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in 2023 found that people who did moderate-intensity physical activity like walking fast for 11 minutes a day had a lowered risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and several forms of cancer.
    Korin Miller, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Unemployment has stayed relatively low in part because of dampened demand for workers as well as a depressed supply (people aging out of the workforce as well as reductions in immigrant workers).
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This time producer Brad Ingelsby tapped Mark Ruffalo as a depressed and traumatized FBI agent leading a task force investigating a series of home invasions targeting drug dens in the area.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Some doctors might not even immediately recognize symptoms in a sick patient because vaccines have made many contagious diseases rare in this country, said Marty, the FIU expert.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
  • However, some can, and those with risk factors can certainly become very sick.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Another set piece involving a malfunctioning chair lift is excruciatingly tense.
    Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But on a day when Mizzou amassed 595 total yards, converted 4 of 5 fourth downs and got an excellent effort from first-year starting quarterback Beau Pribula, surrendering possession had to fill Kansas followers with a sense of dread.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The openings can keep your feet cool or give you an excellent way to show off some eye-catching socks once the weather get cooler.
    Isis Briones, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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