Skip to content

downward

/ˈdaʊnwɚd/adjective, adverb2 syllables

Downward means: spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position.

Synonyms for downward4

adjective, as in extending or moving from a higher to a lower place

adjective, as in on or toward a surface regarded as a base

adverb, as in spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position

down, downwards, downwardly

Opposites of downward

What does downward mean?3

adverb

1

spatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position“don't fall down”

adjective

1

extending or moving from a higher to a lower place“the down staircase”

2

on or toward a surface regarded as a base“he lay face downward”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Downward in a sentence

  • I was looking downward to the bottom of the valley.unknown
  • We risk tilting ourselves into a downward spiral of defeatism.LK
  • PNG's government has recently been forced to adjust spending levels downward.The_World_Factbook
  • The global economy is in a downward spiral.rul
  • The slump in oil prices could send Algeria in an economic downward spiral.Amastan
  • Yanni's letter sent Rima into a downward spiral of self-hatred.Amastan
  • The hill slopes downward to the river.AlanF_US
  • The water runs downward to the pond.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.