as in prairie
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country
hold a festival on the downs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in drops
to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall
downed his opponent with one stunning blow
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in sips
to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat
downing slices of pizza and guzzling bottles of soda
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dismisses
to reject by or as if by a vote
all attempts to ban indoor smoking had been downed by the town council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of downs
Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Then there was the play that made many scratch their heads — the one when the Carolina Panthers’ game-tying field goal was blocked only for an esoteric NFL rule to award the Panthers with the ball, a new set of downs and great field position.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
The Bills were 0-6 on third downs, and 0-1 on fourth down after Allen threw an incomplete pass during a first-quarter attempt from the 49-yard line.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Pass-me-downs, from her mom and her mom and her mom, and sometime before that, a language that wasn’t ours.
—Davon Loeb, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
In the first half, Malden Catholic came to play from the opening snap and, after forcing a turnover on downs, the Lancers needed just two plays as senior Dominik Mercier ran it in from 48 yards out to go up 7-0.
—Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
When Mines stopped the ThunderWolves on downs on the next drive, the offense put together an impressive eight-play, 73-yard drive, which included seven runs and an incomplete pass, to bust this game open at 28-6.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Western Hills moved the ball down to the C-R 8 yard line on its ensuing drive, but lost the ball on downs there with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
In the eight drives after Penry’s score, Boise State went three-and-out twice, had two Cutforth interceptions, lost a fumble, punted on a four-play drive, and turned the ball over on downs twice.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2025
Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Nov. 2025
In between questions about Nineties cultural touchstones like Friends, Space Jam, Beavis and Butthead, the Spice Girls, and Sir-Mix-A-Lot — during which Kravitz racks up a lot of points and Butler downs a lot of shots — the pair also discusses working on Caught Stealing.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
In Week 5, Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams converted on only four of 10 third downs, and after taking a 17-7 lead into halftime, managed only nine points in the final two quarters and overtime.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Then there was the play that made many scratch their heads — the one when the Carolina Panthers’ game-tying field goal was blocked only for an esoteric NFL rule to award the Panthers with the ball, a new set of downs and great field position.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
The Bills were 0-6 on third downs, and 0-1 on fourth down after Allen threw an incomplete pass during a first-quarter attempt from the 49-yard line.
—Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Pass-me-downs, from her mom and her mom and her mom, and sometime before that, a language that wasn’t ours.
—Davon Loeb, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
In the first half, Malden Catholic came to play from the opening snap and, after forcing a turnover on downs, the Lancers needed just two plays as senior Dominik Mercier ran it in from 48 yards out to go up 7-0.
—Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
When Mines stopped the ThunderWolves on downs on the next drive, the offense put together an impressive eight-play, 73-yard drive, which included seven runs and an incomplete pass, to bust this game open at 28-6.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Western Hills moved the ball down to the C-R 8 yard line on its ensuing drive, but lost the ball on downs there with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Nov. 2025
In the eight drives after Penry’s score, Boise State went three-and-out twice, had two Cutforth interceptions, lost a fumble, punted on a four-play drive, and turned the ball over on downs twice.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
But Sarah Graves gives a bit too much room and Penn downs a 3-pointeron the wing.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Nov. 2025
In between questions about Nineties cultural touchstones like Friends, Space Jam, Beavis and Butthead, the Spice Girls, and Sir-Mix-A-Lot — during which Kravitz racks up a lot of points and Butler downs a lot of shots — the pair also discusses working on Caught Stealing.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downs
Noun
-
The Longview Steakhouse Located on the eastern edge of Kananaskis, where the mountains flatten out, this eponymous steakhouse is known as much for its long prairie views as its tender cuts of beef.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
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After the death of his addict father, Ethan heads back to see if there’s any money to be made from selling his home, intending to stay, only briefly, with his aunt Sarah, Metcalf’s character, a Brunhilde of the high prairie.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The couple and another teen riding with the girl snapped into action and reached over to grab onto her for the duration of the ride, each bracing hard against the car as the ride zoomed at highway speeds through its hills, drops and turns.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This 1-mile trail is conveniently located right off I-94 and drops you into the heart of the Badlands.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Lindsay Lohan sips on a tasty treat to kick off the 3rd Annual Betch of the Year with Dunkin'.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The agreement, signed earlier this month, dismisses the federal lawsuit alleging officers should have known Dante Dwaine Day, 44, was having a mental crisis and called for intervention.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
19 Dec. 2025
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The horror meister also dismisses outright any talk online about slowing his filmmaking pace after the box office disappointment for Keeper.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Dec. 2025
Noun
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There, Patagonia stretches out into wide skies, windswept pampas, turquoise lakes, and towering ice fields.—
Eric Sheets,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Dec. 2025
-
The earthy palette of browns, pampa greens, and guanaco beiges further enhances the collection’s life-in-the-great-outdoors vibe, only occasionally countered with pops of vivid blue and black.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
18 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But each release specifies exactly which warehouse and even which floors the barrels for a particular batch were matured, which is similar to Hardin’s Creek.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Every wildfire that takes down a transmission line, every flood that swallows a road, every heatwave that makes a solar farm falter all slow the very systems meant to replace fossil fuels.—
Natalie Unterstell,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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Taroko Gorge, however, carves breathtaking grandeur from marble stone; a natural cathedral of cliffs, where suspension bridges sway above rapids and swallows dart through narrow canyons.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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During a final confrontation, all of this comes to light, Josephine accidentally shoots and kills Irvine family friend Colin (Jay Ellis), and Peter not-so-accidentally shoots and kills Josephine.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lately though, claims about the practice have grown, with viral videos and content creators claiming that exposing your blankets to freezing temperatures kills bacteria, banishes allergens, and more.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downs. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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