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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of downs
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2025
Ups and downs are expected throughout the season, especially with something new that was just installed.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Giving them the ball back, giving them an extra set of downs.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Diageo has had some ups and downs over the past year as far as the whisky market is concerned, and has even decided to pause production at some of its distilleries in recent months.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2025
This season has been marked by ups and downs.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
A couple of blow downs gave unspoken evidence that no one, at least in a vehicle, had passed this way for a long time.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Hoover helped the offense convert two pivotal third downs on the decisive drive late in the fourth quarter as the Horned Frogs took over six minutes off the clock before McCashland’s field goal.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
The Tigers had more passing yards, rushing yards and converted a better percentage of third downs than Vanderbilt.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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
Ups and downs are expected throughout the season, especially with something new that was just installed.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025
Giving them the ball back, giving them an extra set of downs.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Diageo has had some ups and downs over the past year as far as the whisky market is concerned, and has even decided to pause production at some of its distilleries in recent months.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2025
This season has been marked by ups and downs.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
A couple of blow downs gave unspoken evidence that no one, at least in a vehicle, had passed this way for a long time.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Hoover helped the offense convert two pivotal third downs on the decisive drive late in the fourth quarter as the Horned Frogs took over six minutes off the clock before McCashland’s field goal.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
The Tigers had more passing yards, rushing yards and converted a better percentage of third downs than Vanderbilt.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 26 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
-
Badlands, North Dakota North Dakota’s Badlands is known for its rugged landscape, including sweeping hills, prairie grasses, canyons and rock formations, as well as native wildlife.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Salvias and native prairie plants should only have a thin layer of mulch and don't need any if plantings are dense.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every week, CoComelon drops a new batch of songs on its YouTube channel that parents and kids can listen to together—and this week is all about establishing healthy routines.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Its release also extends Carson’s tradition of Halloween drops.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The anti-American side focuses exclusively on the tragedies, usually makes slavery the chief argument for the prosecution, and dismisses the triumphs as hypocritical rhetoric.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Some critics have interpreted the ending as a glib last-minute twist that threatens to neutralize the story’s potency and dismisses the seriousness of the movie’s premise.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
22 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
-
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
-
In Ringu, Sadako psychically kills a journalist who mocks her mother’s psychic abilities.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Indeed, The Ring (2002) is the film’s jumping-off point, with a plot revolving around a cursed videotape that kills all who watch it.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, guests have a good chance of seeing bull moose in the meadow below the lodge during the fall mating season.—
Lisa Kadane,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The iconic meadow scene, during which Bella and Edward stare longingly at one another on the forest floor, reached new levels of enchantmemt thanks to a proper display of the scene's idyllic panorama.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Downs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downs. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share