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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of downs
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Brace yourself, as the week ahead will certainly bring some ups and downs.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Loftis led two promising drives early in the action, one resulting in a turnover on downs and the other being the team’s lone touchdown of the game.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Oh, Cam Little missed a 50-yard field goal to continue their concerns at kicker, and the Jags tried — and failed — to convert four fourth downs.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The biggest stop of the season came in the final seconds when the Hornets stopped the Bears on downs inside the 2, setting off a sideline celebration.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The Trojans took possession and quickly cycled through their first set of downs when Makai Lemon grabbed a 42-yard pass from quarterback Jayden Maiava on a third-and-9.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Three Louisville kneel downs later, and the clock hit zero.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite having open receivers on deep routes during the drive on two occasions, the Broncos couldn’t connect and turned the ball over on downs.
—Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
Their opening eight possessions featured six punts, a turnover on downs at the end of their lone productive drive and an aborted drive that went backwards in the final 64 seconds of the first half.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Brace yourself, as the week ahead will certainly bring some ups and downs.
—Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Loftis led two promising drives early in the action, one resulting in a turnover on downs and the other being the team’s lone touchdown of the game.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Oct. 2025
Oh, Cam Little missed a 50-yard field goal to continue their concerns at kicker, and the Jags tried — and failed — to convert four fourth downs.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The biggest stop of the season came in the final seconds when the Hornets stopped the Bears on downs inside the 2, setting off a sideline celebration.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2025
The Trojans took possession and quickly cycled through their first set of downs when Makai Lemon grabbed a 42-yard pass from quarterback Jayden Maiava on a third-and-9.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Three Louisville kneel downs later, and the clock hit zero.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Despite having open receivers on deep routes during the drive on two occasions, the Broncos couldn’t connect and turned the ball over on downs.
—Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
According to the nonprofit, when trees and shrubs take over grasslands, groundwater and prairie streams get depleted, soil health is compromised, and the bedrock below the grasslands is altered.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The decision covers massive stretches of eastern Montana grasslands, rolling North Dakota prairie, and mountains and tundra of Alaska.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Everything — from the app that pings the cookie drops to the branding strategy that weaponizes nostalgia and novelty — emanates from this Provo facility.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
-
When participation drops among people of color and young people, our electorate becomes less representative—and our government does too.—
Tom Lopach,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each side dismisses the other's contention.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Trump dismisses Republican mayoral hopeful as Giuliani allies support Cuomo.—
,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some invasive ornamental grasses include pampas grass, Mexican feather grass, and fountaingrass.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia CNN — Grasslands — also known as prairies, steppes, pampas or savannas — are home to 25% of the world’s population and all kinds of plants and wildlife, including elephants, rhinos and lions.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN,
6 Dec. 2024
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
-
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
-
Neurocysticercosis occurs after a person swallows pork tapeworm eggs, according to the CDC.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Echinacea is not an antibiotic that directly kills pathogens.—
Ayesha Gulzar,
Verywell Health,
17 Oct. 2025
-
That starts a chain reaction of polymerization that ultimately kills the cell.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Although there may not be snow on the ground, the area still charms with its alpine vistas, green meadows, and waterfalls, such as Staubbach Falls, the third highest waterfall in Switzerland.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Oct. 2025
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From the Call of the Canyon parking area in Oak Creek Canyon, hikers cross a shaggy meadow, then follow the creek into verdant forests beneath high cliffs.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downs. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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