DOWN(S) Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

downs 1 of 2

noun

Definition of downs next

plural of down

as in prairie

a broad area of level or rolling treeless country hold a festival on the downs

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downs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of down

as in drops

to strike (someone) so forcefully as to cause a fall downed his opponent with one stunning blow

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as in sips

to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat downing slices of pizza and guzzling bottles of soda

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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

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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 downs

Noun

Jovic wants to have more ups than downs moving forward. —

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026 Meanwhile, jet black and reddened brown add intensity to the neutral palette, particularly when applied to dark bases with wash-downs. —

Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2026 The Braves are methodical offensively, utilizing their downs to get to certain parts of the field and running different concepts to open spaces. —

Pj Green april 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026 And what about the fans, who have been riding this roller coaster of rotating baseball operations heads for a decade, with a 2018 World Series ring, yes, but still far too many downs than ups? —

Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 Ultimately, Hunter’s impact needs to be felt on early downs. —

Mike Kaye april 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2026 His ability to slide inside on pass downs fits the 49ers’ philosophy, perhaps too much so. —

Cam Inman, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026 Pimpton was Craig’s favorite target on third downs and flourished in the short and intermediate passing game. —

Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 2026 More likely, the Nuggets will run plenty of sets with him coming off pin-downs and other screens to catch in the flow of their half-court offense, sparing him from the burden of initiating every possession. —

Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026

Verb

Springtown takes edge in 7-4A race, downs Decatur Springtown got the inside track on the District 7-4A championship after beating Decatur 4-2 in 8 innings on Monday night at Decatur High School. —

Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2026 Greene downs it, throws the kid his jersey, smiles, and all is right with the world. —

Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026 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 North American prairie is an ecological marvel, home to some of the nation’s most iconic creatures — bison, elk, wolves, pronghorn, prairie dogs and bald eagles.

— Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
The North American wildflowers still grow on prairies and grasslands, nourishing butterflies and bees with nectar-rich flowers that bloom from the top down.

— Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 5 May 2026