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
That was down from 39% in 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Jeremy Cox, Baltimore Sun, 23 Apr. 2025 Mate Dei, down 3-1, loaded the bases with two out in the 10th. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
With only three regular-season games left and the Frost’s postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the intensity and anxiety usually associated with such a scenario have been replaced by unwanted down time and a splintered roster. Dean Spiros, Twin Cities, 11 Apr. 2025 Over 100 students at the high school on Locust Grove Road, some of whom brought sleeping bags or decks of cards for down time, proceeded to play video games for 24 hours straight. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
Haven’t had some of the emotional ups and downs that at times have plagued him earlier in his career. Antonio Morales, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Listen to this article MIAMI — If nothing else, through the ups and downs, the closing stretch of the Miami Heat’s regular season offered a reminder that big men still can matter in today’s NBA and that a new generation has arrived — including the Heat’s Kel’el Ware. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
With teamwork from groups like the Northwest Indiana Paddling Association and Save the Dunes, downed ash trees were removed from the East Branch of the Little Calumet River. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025 At the beginning of January, during one of the best games of the NBA slate, when the Cleveland Cavaliers downed the Thunder in a shootout, six-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell was the one man who couldn’t seem to get a bucket. Fred Katz, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down
Adverb
  • Draw a line from those two stars downward (north) and one encounters Polaris.
    Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • These showed that a chunk was missing from the bottom of Earth’s crust beneath the volcanoes: For some reason, the bottom of the crust became heavy and dripped downward from the top part, leaving a gap.
    Alexandra Witze, JSTOR Daily, 24 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • While some may think that flushing prescriptions down the toilet is a safe alternative to throwing them away and can prevent people from accidentally ingesting it, Kennedy warns that there are dangers to that too.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • In the beginning of the movie, Karsh goes on a date, but his grief scares the woman away.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Critics of the plus up question the need to throw more money at a defense industrial base that is currently maxed out, especially as benefits for veterans and military families could be subject to reductions.
    William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Even on up days during the last few volatile weeks, the market has failed to get back to the 5,500 level, which is close to its pre-April 2 low from March.
    Jesse Pound, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Investors are keenly watching these metrics as European banks transition to an environment of monetary easing, particularly in Switzerland, which has been combating a strong franc and depressed inflation with interest rates as low as 0.25%.
    Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Dracula’s Daughter is about a lady vampire who seduces and feeds off other ladies and who is depressed and desperate to be cured of her unyielding desire for wom— sorry.
    Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • It seems squarely aimed at making kids sick by discouraging vaccination.
    Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Steward said his daughter, while surfing nearby, became sick with an infection from a type of bacteria called MRSA, which is resistant to many antibiotics.
    Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • At a minimum, professionals are looking for dependable inventory, top-quality and professional-grade equipment, effortless trade-ins, excellent customer service and reliable and fast repairs.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Incorporating a mudroom into your home is an excellent way to add value to your space.
    Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Chicago last weekend, the Red Sox dropped two of three.
    Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • And even with personnel changes, the standard doesn’t drop.
    Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Anunoby, who also finished with 23 points in Game 1, was tasked with making Cunningham feel a presence as swallowing as Madison Square Garden was on Saturday night.
    James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Cut to: Hampton reading from The Book of Jonah, a section of the Old Testament perhaps best known for the titular prophet getting swallowed by a whale.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

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