down

Meanings

down¹

adverbdown (not generally comparable, comparative further down or farther down, superlative furthest down or farthest down)

comparative further down · comparative farther down · superlative furthest down · superlative farthest down · alternative Northumbria doon

comparablenot comparableusuallyFrom a higher position to a lower one; downwards.
The cat jumped down from the table.
3 more examples
She was so mad she wouldn't speak to me for quite a spell, but at last I coaxed her into going up to Miss Emmeline's room and fetching down a tintype of the missing Deacon man.
1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VI, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC
To her humiliation Jessamy found there were tears trickling down her cheeks.
1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, year_published edition, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, page 48
Through the open front door ran Jessamy, down the steps to where Kitto was sitting at the bottom with the pram beside him.
1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 122
not comparableusuallyTo or towards what is considered the bottom of something, irrespective of whether this is presently physically lower.
Go down to the bottom of the page.
1 more example
As I lay on my back, a pain shot down from my neck to my waist.
comparablenot comparableusuallyAt a lower or further place or position along a set path.
His place is farther down the road.
2 more examples
The company was well down the path to bankruptcy.
It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street. He wore shepherd's plaid trousers and the swallow-tail coat of the day, with a figured muslin cravat wound about his wide-spread collar.
1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01
not comparableusuallyTo the south (as south is at the bottom of typical maps).
I went down to Miami for a conference.
not comparableusuallyAway from the city (regardless of direction).
down on the farm
3 more examples
He went down to Cavan.
down to the country
1722, Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague Year, London: E. Nutt et al., p. 12, But then my Servant who I had intended to take down with me [i.e. from London to Bedfordshire], deceiv’d me;
not comparableusuallyAt or towards any place that is visualised as 'down' by virtue of local features or local convention, or arbitrarily, irrespective of direction or elevation change.
She lives down by the park.
not comparableusuallyForward, straight ahead.
At the first intersection turn left and walk down, then turn right.
not comparableusuallyrail transportIn the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
UKdatednot comparableusuallyacademiaAway from Oxford or Cambridge.
He's gone back down to Newcastle for Christmas.
not comparableusuallyTo a subordinate or less prestigious position or rank.
Smith was sent down to the minors to work on his batting.
1 more example
After the incident, Kelly went down to Second Lieutenant.
not comparableusuallyhobbiesTowards the opponent's side (in ball-sports).
By moving further down the pitch, the batsman lengthens the distance between the ball and the stumps.
2005 September 28, “LBW explained”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)
1 more example
The charity match, played Sunday afternoon at Cirencester Park Polo Club in Gloucestershire, reached a dramatic climax when Prince Harry tore down the pitch but failed to score what was described as an “open goal”.
2015 May 25, “Frustrated Prince Harry howls as he misses open goal”, in Daily Telegraph
not comparableusuallySo as to lessen quantity, level or intensity.
Please turn the music down!
1 more example
You need to tone down the rhetoric.
not comparableusuallySo as to reduce size, weight or volume.
Boil the mixture down to a syrupy consistency.
4 more examples
Trim the stick down to a length of about twelve inches.
Thanks to my strict diet, I've slimmed down to eleven stone.
ſtew it gently till quite tender, then take it up and boil down the gravy in the pan to a quart
1788, Mary Cole (cook), The Lady's Complete Guide; or, Cookery in all its Branches, London: G. Kearsley, →OCLC, page 92
At that point I perhaps should have gone back through the interview and changed what I said — slightly re-worded it to better reflect my feelings about the two resolutions. But I did not think to do that. I was caught up in the crunch of trying to get it all ready for publication, and edit it down, not add more explanations to it.
1981 August 29, Nancy Wechsler, “Pornography and the Lawyers Guild”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 7, page 4
not comparableusuallyFrom less to greater detail.
This spreadsheet lets you drill down to daily or even hourly sales figures.
1 more example
Economics is a messy discipline: too fluid to be a science, too rigorous to be an art. Perhaps it is fitting that economists’ most-used metric, gross domestic product (GDP), is a tangle too. GDP measures the total value of output in an economic territory. Its apparent simplicity explains why it is scrutinised down to tenths of a percentage point every month.
2013 August 3, “Boundary problems”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847
not comparableusuallyFrom a remoter or higher antiquity.
These traditions have been handed down over generations.
1 more example
Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation.
1825 June 17, Daniel Webster, An address delivered at the laying of the corner stone of the Bunker Hill monument, Boston: Cummings, Hilliard, and Co., →OCLC, page 12
not comparableusuallyInto a state of non-operation.
They closed the shop down.
1 more example
The computer has been shut down.
not comparableusuallySo as to secure or compress something to the floor, ground, or other (usually horizontal) surface.
We need to nail down this carpet so people don't keep tripping over it.
not comparableusuallyOn paper (or in a durable record).
You need to write down what happened while it's still fresh in your mind.
not comparableusuallySo as to be cowed into silence.
The speaker was heckled and shouted down.
1 more example
The comedy club's audience was known for hooting down timid performers.
not comparableusuallyAs a down payment.
You can have it, no money down.
1 more example
We put £100 down on a new sofa.
not comparableusuallycrosswordsIn a downwards direction; vertically.
I'm stuck on 11 down.
not comparableusuallyUsed with verbs to indicate that the action of the verb was carried to some state of completion, permanence, or success rather than being of indefinite duration.
He chased answers. / He chased down answers.
1 more example
He closed operations. / He closed down operations.
imperativenot comparableusuallysentence substituteGet down.
Down, boy! (such as to direct a dog to stand on four legs from two, or to sit from standing on four legs.)

preposition

alternative Northumbria doon

From the higher end to the lower of.
The ball rolled down the hill.
1 more example
We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. We passed on the way the van of the guests from Asquith.
1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC
From north to south of.
We sailed down the eastern seaboard.
Towards the mouth of (a river); in the direction of flow of.
In this game we float sticks down the river.
From one end to another of (in any direction); along.
The bus went down the street.
2 more examples
They walked down the beach holding hands.
She got into her Dodge Omni and drove down the curving driveway towards the plantation’s main gate and onto Highway 52.
2026 August 7, Nicholas Muhoro, “Korrina Malinoski, 26, Vanished After an Argument in 1987. Less Than a Year Later, Her 11-Year-Old Daughter Disappeared Too”, in Skip Boring, archived from the original on 07 Aug 2026
IrelandUKAt (a given place that is seen as removed from one's present location or other point of reference).
I'll see you later down the pub.
IrelandUKTo (a given place that is seen as removed from one's present location or other point of reference).
I'm going down the shops.

adjectivedown (comparative more down, superlative most down)

comparative more down · superlative most down · alternative Northumbria doon

predicativeFacing downwards.
Turn the cloth over so that the patterned side is down.
3 more examples
You win a dollar if the down side of the card is different to the up side; otherwise, you lose a dollar.
1993, Finite Mathematics: Overrun Edition, Calvert, page 251
Define the event F as the event that the down face of the die is 1 or 4.
2004, Robert M. Gray, Lee D. Davisson, An Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing, page 170
Each time the 10 cards are reshuffled, your task is to predict the letter on the down side of the top card.
2016, Keith E. Stanovich, Richard F. West, Maggie E. Toplak, The Rationality Quotient: Toward a Test of Rational Thinking, page 332
predicativeAt a lower level than before.
Prices are down.
2 more examples
The stock market is down.
Nationwide, in 2025, homicides were down by about 18% compared with 2024, marking the largest one-year decrease on record.
2026 August 6, Meaghan McDonald, Michael Friedrich, “Why Are Homicides Declining Across the United States?”, in Pew
Antonyms: up
informalpredicativeSad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.
Been down so long it seems like up to me
3 more examples
Mary seems very down since she split up with her boyfriend.
We get down, down, down / We feel sorry for ourselves / We get down, down, down / We all need somebody's help
2011, Rachel Platten, “Overwhelmed”, in Be Here
You say you opened up a bicycle wash and the first six customers drowned [...] Is that what’s got you down, pussy cat?
2014 March 30, William Yardley, quoting Eddie Lawrence, “Eddie Lawrence Dies at 95; Comedy's ‘Old Philosopher’”, in New York Times, Arts
Synonyms: miserable, sorrowful, atrabiliary, atrabilious, blitheless, dispirited, blue, bummed out · Antonyms: up
Sick, wounded, or damaged:
1. predicativeSick or ill.
  He is down with the flu.
2. not comparablepredicativeslanggovernmentWounded and unable to move normally, or killed.
  We have an officer down outside the suspect's house.
  1 more example
  There are three soldiers down and one walking wounded.
3. predicativebiologyStranded in a recumbent position; unable to stand.
  a down cow
  Synonyms: downer
4. not comparablepredicativeslangaeronauticsMechanically failed, collided, shot down, or otherwise suddenly unable to fly.
  We have a chopper down near the river.
5. not comparablepredicativeInoperable; out of order; out of service.
  The system is down.
  Antonyms: up
predicativeslangIn prison.
I'm a TS who has been down for over 5 years and will be going up for parole in the next 1 to 3 years.
1988 February 7, Crystal Dawn Boyd, “Let's Start Caring About Ourselves”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 29, page 5
predicativeHaving a lower score than an opponent.
He was down by a bishop and a pawn after 15 moves.
2 more examples
They are down by 3–0 with just 5 minutes to play.
At 5–1 down, she produced a great comeback to win the set on a tiebreak.
Antonyms: up
colloquialpredicativefollowing the noun modifiedball gamesOut.
Two down and one to go in the bottom of the ninth.
colloquialpredicativeNegative about; hostile to.
She's been down on clams since a bad case of food poisoning; she's lost her appetite for them.
1 more example
The prisoners here are down on gays (they bring the outside in here with them when they come in). I sometimes think they hate us because they fear to be us.
1983 August 13, Dennis Stinson, “Personal advertisement”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 5, page 22
CanadaUSpredicativeslangComfortable [with]; accepting [of]; okay [with].
Near-synonyms: feel like, would like, fancy
5 more examples
He's chill enough; he'd probably be totally down with it.
Asker: Are you down to hang out at the mall? / Answerer: Yeah, as long as you're down with helping me pick a phone.
Asker: You down? Yes or no? / Answerer: You know I'm down for whatever.
Then again, with your name being Juanita Perez, I wasn't sure if you were more down with the Latinos or something.
2001, Omar Tyree, For the Love of Money, page 121
He said Lunceford's band was smoother and had more musical variety and great show-band novelties, but that there was something about the way we did our things that made us sound more down with it.
2002, Count Basie, Albert Murray, Good Morning Blues: The Autobiography Of Count Basie, page 194
Synonyms: feel like, would like, fancy
predicativeslangAfrican-American VernacularAccepted, respected, or loyally participating in the (thug) community.
What you mean, 'No'? Man, I thought you was down.
3 more examples
my homies is down so don't arouse my anger
1994, “Gangsta's Paradise”, Coolio (lyrics)
Nigga you ain't down. You heard what Nate said. If you ain't down for the dead homie you sure ain't down for us.
1995, Colors - Volume 4, page 28
Cause you're a whiteboy, you know, an' if you get locked up you gotta be down for the Aryans and the Surenos, you know? You gotta be down.
2009, Mike Flax, L.A. Unified, page 129
predicativeFinished (of a task); defeated or dealt with (of an opponent or obstacle); elapsed (of time). Often coupled with to go (remaining).
Two down and three to go.
1 more example
Ten minutes down and nothing's happened yet.
predicativeThoroughly practiced, learned or memorised; mastered. (Compare down pat.)
It's two weeks until opening night and our lines are still not down yet.
1 more example
I stay with Chloe the longest. When she's not hanging out at the beach parties, she lives in a Japanese garden complete with an arched bridge spanning a pond filled with koi of varying sizes and shapes. Reeds shoot out of the water, rustling when the fish swim through them, and river-washed stones are sprinkled in a bed of sand. Chloe has this whole new Japanese thing down.
2013, P.J. Hoover, Solstice, →ISBN, page 355
informalpredicativeSettled, having one's life or affairs in order.
I don't feel at all past 18... time stopped for me when I turned 18. But 22... shit, a person should be somewhat down by then.
1973 January 28, Lou Sullivan, Diary
obsoletepredicativeDownright; absolute; positive.
This, he muſt give me leave to tell him, is an abſolute, right down—falſehood.
1764, Jonathan Mayhew, A Defence of the Observations on the Charter and Conduct of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, London: W. Nicoll, →OCLC, page 84
predicativelimb; etc; limb; etcFallen or felled.
Will you please let me get two loads of down wood.
1935 (printed in 2009), Powell, Shenandoah Letters, 54
3 more examples
Left again at 1.05 p.m., and for two miles it was over rolling county with easy grades, but a good deal of down timber.
1897, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Report of the Commissioner ..., page 72
The mere fact that there are quantities of trees near by with "loads” of down wood, does not signify that it is desirable camp fuel.
1920, Boys and Girls Bookshelf: A Practical Plan of Character Building ..., page 309
The average weight of down logs in seven old-growth stands, from 250 to over 900 years old, was 53 tons per acre (118 tonnes/ha); the range was 38 to 70 tons per acre (85 to 156 tonnes/ha). The largest accumulation of down wood recorded for a stand thus far is in the Carbon River Valley […]
1981, Ecological Characteristics of Old-growth Douglas-fir Forests, page 31
predicativerail transportTravelling in the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.
The down train leaves at 10:05.
Antonyms: up

verbdown (third-person singular simple present downs, present participle downing, simple past and past participle downed)

present singular third person downs · participle present downing · participle past downed · past downed · alternative Northumbria doon

predicativetransitiveTo knock (someone or something) down; to cause to come down; to fell.First known use 16th c.
A single rifle shot downed the mighty beast.
1 more example
The storm downed several old trees along the highway.
1. predicativetransitiveSpecifically, to cause (something in the air) to fall to the ground; to bring down (with a missile etc.).
  The helicopter was downed by a surface-to-air missile.
predicativetransitiveTo lower; to put (something) down.First known use 16th c.
The bell rang for lunch, and the workers downed their tools.
figurativelypredicativetransitiveTo defeat; to overpower.First known use 17th. c.
To down proud hearts that would not willing die.
1725, Philip Sidney, The works of the Honourable Sir Philip Sidney, kt., in prose and verse, London: W. Innys, →OCLC, page 156
colloquialpredicativetransitiveTo disparage; to put down.First known use 18th c.
‘I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the Wits, once at our House, – when they talked of Ghosts.’
1779, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 141
1 more example
Now you have a social worker who downs women who are gay! […] I have met a woman and fell in love with her and I still get humiliated and discriminated against because he (social worker) is against homosexuality and is causing a lot of confusion here.
1986 April 12, anonymous author, “One Day I'll Write a Book on This”, in Gay Community News, page 3
intransitiveobsoletepredicativerareTo go or come down; to descend.First known use 17th. c.
...that is, that the trade of the world is too little for us two, therefore one must down.
1933, Arthur Bryant, quoting Samuel Pepys (1664, February 2nd), Samuel Pepys: The Man in the Making, New York: Macmillan, →OCLC, page 215
colloquialpredicativetransitiveTo drink or swallow, especially without stopping before the vessel containing the liquid is empty.First known use 19th c.
He downed an ale and ordered another.
1 more example
After watching people downing drink on the train, I am in need of slaking my own thirst, so I pop into the station's Centurion Bar.
2022 November 30, Paul Bigland, “Destination Oban: a Sunday in Scotland”, in RAIL, number 971, page 75
CanadianpredicativetransitiveAmerican footballTo render (the ball) dead, typically by touching the ground while in possession.First known use 19th c.
He downed it at the seven-yard line.
predicativetransitivegamesTo sink (a ball) into a hole or pocket.First known use 20th c.
He downed two balls on the break.

noundown (plural downs)

plural downs · alternative Northumbria doon

predicativeA negative aspect; a downer, a downside.
I love almost everything about my job. The only down is that I can't take Saturdays off.
datedpredicativeA grudge (on someone).
She had a down on me. I don't know what for, I'm sure; because I never said a word.
1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York, published 2007, page 10
predicativeA downer, depressant.
I am on drugs that I don't need to be on. They feel if I'm on a lot of downs, then I won't complain about my prison life
1984 December 29, Gena Spero, “Innocent Lesbian In Prison”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25, page 4
predicativeAn act of swallowing an entire drink at once.
predicativeAmerican footballA single play, from the time the ball is snapped (the start) to the time the whistle is blown (the end) when the ball is down, or is downed.
I bet after the third down, the kicker will replace the quarterback on the field.
predicativecrosswordingA clue whose solution runs vertically in the grid.
I haven't solved 12 or 13 across, but I've got most of the downs.
predicativegamblingThe shift or period of time during which a dealer manages a given table before rotating to the next table at a casino or cardroom, which is often 30 minutes.
predicativeA downstairs room of a two-story house.
She lives in a two-up two-down.
predicativeDown payment.
predicativeThe lightest quark with a charge number of −¹⁄₃.

down²

noundown (countable and uncountable, plural downs)

plural downs · alternative Northumbria doon

AustraliaSouthern Englandalsocountableespeciallyoftenpluralpredicativeuncountableoften in place namesA hill; in England, especially a chalk hill.
We went for a walk over the downs.
5 more examples
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England.
And with each end of thy blue bow dost crown My bosky acres and my unshrubb'd down
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]
...as they muſt needs acknowledge who have been on the Downs of Suſſex, and enjoyed that ravishing Proſpect of the Sea on one Hand, and the Country far and wide on the other.
1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation, London: Pr. for S. Smith, →OCLC
She went by dale, and she went by down, With a single rose in her hair.
1842, Alfred Tennyson, “Lady Clare”, in Poems, London: Edward Moxon, →OCLC, page 198
The amateur nature-lover proceeds over the down, appreciating all this as hard as he can appreciate, and anon gazing up at the grey and white cloud shapes melting slowly from this form to that, and showing lakes, and wide expanses, and serene distances of blue between their gaps.
1898, H. G. Wells, Certain Personal Matters: A Collection of Material, Mainly Autobiographical, Lawrence & Bullen, →OCLC, page 256
countableplural normallypredicativeuncountableA field, especially one used for horse racing.
UKcountablein pluralpredicativeuncountableA tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep.
Seven thousand broad-taild Sheepe gras'd on his Downes;
1636, George Sandys, “A Paraphrase Vpon Iob”, in Early English Books

down³

noundown (countable and uncountable, plural downs)

plural downs · alternative Northumbria doon

countablepredicativeuncountableSoft, fluffy immature feathers which grow on young birds. Used as insulating material in duvets, sleeping bags and jackets.
countablepredicativeuncountablebiologyThe pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, such as the thistle.
No candle should light it, neither should any flower adorn it, save for several dried stalks of old and withered thistles, their heads pale with silken down, held in a common glass jar.
1998, Valerie Worth, The Crone's Book of Charms and Spells, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, page 152
1 more example
Down or Cotton-Thiſtle. This hath many large Leaves lying on the Ground, ſomewhat cut in, and as it were crumpled on the Edges, of a green Colour on the upper ſide, but covered with long hairy Wool or Cottony Down, ſet with moſt ſharp and cruel pricks
1718, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, London: W. Churchill, →OCLC, page 120
countablepredicativeuncountableThe soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.
But love him as he was, when youthful Grace, And the firſt Down began to ſhade his face
1717, John Dryden, The Dramatick Works of John Dryden, Esq., volume the fourth, London: Jacob Tonson, →OCLC, page 136
1 more example
The servant to whom he put this question was a young fellow with chubby cheeks, small, dull eyes, and a round chin, covered with a colorless down.
1867, Ivan Sergheïevitch Turgenef [i.e., Ivan Turgenev], chapter I, in Eugene Schuyler, transl., Fathers and Sons […], New York, N.Y.: Leypoldt and Holt, →OCLC, page 1
countablepredicativeuncountableThat which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down.
When in the down I sink my head, Sleep, Death's twin brother, times my breath.
1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “(please specify |part=Prologue or Epilogue, or |canto=I to CXXIX)”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC
1 more example
Thou boſom Softneſs! Down of all my Cares! I cou'd recline my thoughts upon this Breaſt To a forgetfulneſs of all my Griefs, And yet be happy: but it wonnot be.
1696, Tho[mas] Southerne, Oroonoko: A Tragedy […], London: […] H[enry] Playford […]; B[enjamin] Tooke […]; [a]nd S. Buckley […], →OCLC, act V, scene the last [iv], pages 76–77

verbdown (third-person singular simple present downs, present participle downing, simple past and past participle downed)

present singular third person downs · participle present downing · participle past downed · past downed · alternative Northumbria doon

predicativetransitiveTo cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down.
What pain to quit the world, just made their own, Their nest so deeply downed, and built so high !
1742, Edward Young, The Complaint: or, Night-thoughts on Life, Death, & Immortality, London: R. Dodsley, →OCLC, page 264

Down⁴

proper noun

One of the six traditional counties of Northern Ireland, usually known as County Down.
A surname.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveAt a lower level than before.

Opposite

adjectiveSad, unhappy, depressed, feeling low.

Opposite

adjectiveStranded in a recumbent position; unable to stand.

Similar

downer

adjectiveInoperable; out of order; out of service.

Opposite

adjectiveHaving a lower score than an opponent.

Opposite

adjectiveComfortable [with]; accepting [of]; okay [with].

Similar

feel like would like fancy

adjectiveTravelling in the direction leading away from the principal terminus, away from milepost zero.

Opposite

antonym(s) of “from a higher position to a lower one”

Opposite

antonym(s) of “in crosswords”

Opposite

across

antonym(s) of “forward, straight ahead”

Opposite

back backwards rearwards

antonym(s) of “From the higher end to the lower”

Opposite

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivebeing or moving lower in position or less in some value

Similar

behind downbound downcast downfield

Opposite

adjectiveextending or moving from a higher to a lower place

Similar

downward descending

adjectivebecoming progressively lower

Similar

falling

adjectivebeing put out in a game of baseball

Similar

out

adjectiveunderstood perfectly

Similar

down pat mastered perfect

adjectivelower than previously

Similar

depressed low

adjectiveshut

Similar

lowered

adjectivenot functioning (temporarily or permanently)

Similar

inoperative

adjectivefilled with melancholy and despondency

nounsoft fine feathers

Similar

down feather

Broader

plume plumage

nounfine soft dense hair (as the fine short hair of cattle or deer or the wool of sheep or the undercoat of certain dogs)

Similar

pile

Broader

hair

adverbspatially or metaphorically from a higher to a lower level or position

Similar

downwards downward downwardly

Opposite

adverbaway from a more central or a more northerly place

Opposite

adverbto a lower intensity

Opposite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

down · adverb, preposition, adjective, verb, noun

Old Englishof-
Proto-Germanic*dūnaz?
Proto-Indo-European*dewh₂-
Proto-Indo-European*duh₂-nós?
Proto-Celtic*dūnomder.?
Proto-West Germanic*dūnā
Old Englishdūne
Old Englishofdūne
Old Englishadūne
Old Englishdūne
Middle Englishdoun
Englishdown

From Middle English doun, doune (“down”), from Old English dūne (“down”), aphetic form of adūne (“down, downward”), from earlier ofdūne (“down”, literally “off the hill”), from of (“of, off of”) + dūn (“hill, mount, dune, down”). More at Etymology 2 below. For the development from directional phrases to prepositions, compare Old Frisian dene (“down”, adverb, literally “(to the) floor”), Middle Low German dāle (“down, downwards”, literally “(in/to the) dale/valley”), whence German Low German dal (“down”). Compare also Saterland Frisian deel (“down”, literally “to/into the dale”), West Frisian del (“down”). Cognate with Scots doon (“down”).

More words from Middle English, Old English

Full word history & related roots →

down · noun

Proto-Germanic*dūnaz?
Proto-Indo-European*dewh₂-
Proto-Indo-European*duh₂-nós?
Proto-Celtic*dūnomder.?
Proto-West Germanic*dūnā
Old Englishdūn
Middle Englishdoune
Englishdown

From Middle English doune, from Old English dūn, from Proto-West Germanic *dūn (“sandhill, dune”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz, *dūnǭ (“pile, heap”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“smoke, haze, dust”). Alternatively, perhaps borrowed from Proto-Celtic *dūnom (“hill; hillfort”) (compare Welsh din (“city, fort, stronghold”), Irish dún (“hill, fort”)), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewh₂- (“to finish, come full circle”). Cognate with West Frisian dún (“dune, sandhill”), Dutch duin (“dune, sandhill”), German Düne (“dune”). More at town; akin to dune. Doublet of Down.

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down · noun, verb

Proto-Indo-European*dʰewh₂-
Proto-Indo-European*dʰuh₂nós
Proto-Germanic*dūnaz
Old Norsedúnn
Middle Englishdoun
Englishdown

From Middle English doun, from Old Norse dúnn, from Proto-Germanic *dūnaz (“down”), which is related to *dauniz (“(pleasant) smell”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰowh₂-nis, from the root *dʰewh₂-. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Duune (“fluff, down”), German Daune (“down”) and Danish dun (“down”).

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Down · proper noun

Irishdún“fortress, stronghold”
EnglishDown

From Irish dún (“fortress, stronghold”).

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Translations

Ancient Greek κάτω, λάχνη

κάτω (kátō)from a high to a low position, downwards
λάχνη (lákhnē)soft, immature feathers
μνοῦς (mnoûs)soft, immature feathers
ἴουλος (íoulos)soft hair of the face

Arabic تَحْتَ, تَحْت

تَحْتَ (taḥta)from a high to a low position, downwards
تَحْت (taḥt)from a high to a low position, downwards
حَتَى (ḥatā)from one end to another
إِلَى (ʔilā)from one end to another
سقطto drop
زَغَب (zaḡab)soft, immature feathers
زَغَب (zaḡab)the pubescence of plants
زَغَب (zaḡab)soft hair of the face

Bulgarian надо́лу, юг

надо́лу (nadólu)from a high to a low position, downwards
юг (jug)to the south
напре́д (napréd)forward, straight ahead
до́лу (dólu)sentence substitute for "get down"
по (po)from one end to another
пониже́н (ponižén)on a lower level than before
поти́снат (potísnat)depressed
печа́лен (pečálen)depressed
опечале́н (opečalén)depressed
свале́н (svalén)(aircraft) unable to fly
неизпра́вен (neizpráven)inoperable; out of service
не рабо́ти (ne rabóti)inoperable; out of service
гу́бя с (gúbja s)having a lower score
проти́вен (protíven)negative or hostile to
вражде́бен (vraždében)negative or hostile to
нави́т (navít)comfortable with
гото́в (gotóv)finished; dealt with
пия на екс (pija na eks)to drink or swallow
хълм (hălm)hill, rolling grassland
моги́ла (mogíla)hill, rolling grassland
бъ́рдо (bắrdo)hill, rolling grassland
баи́р (baír)hill, rolling grassland
пух (puh)soft, immature feathers
мъх (măh)soft, immature feathers
мъх (măh)soft hair of the face

Catalan avall, al sud

avallfrom a high to a low position, downwards
al sudto the south
enforaaway from the city
tot recteforward, straight ahead
fora de serveiinto a state of non-operation
jau!sentence substitute for "get down"
baixasentence substitute for "get down"
baixisentence substitute for "get down"
avallsentence substitute for "get down"
verticalin crosswords
avallfrom one end to another
baixon a lower level than before
deprimitdepressed
moixdepressed
intentAmerican football: a single play
plomissolsoft, immature feathers
plomíssoft, immature feathers
borrissolsoft, immature feathers
borrissolthe pubescence of plants

Chinese Mandarin 下, 羽絨 /羽绒

下 (xià)from a high to a low position, downwards
羽絨 /羽绒 (yǔróng)soft, immature feathers
絮 (xù)the pubescence of plants

Czech dolů, dolů

dolůfrom a high to a low position, downwards
dolůto the south
doleto the south
venaway from the city
chmýřísoft, immature feathers

Danish ned, nedad

nedfrom a high to a low position, downwards
nedadfrom a high to a low position, downwards
nedto the south
nedeinto a state of non-operation
ned adfrom one end to another
hen adfrom one end to another
lavon a lower level than before
nedadgåendeon a lower level than before
aftagendeon a lower level than before
langt nededepressed
nededepressed
deprimeretdepressed
slugeto drink or swallow
hælde nedto drink or swallow
tabeto drop
lade faldeto drop
højdedraghill, rolling grassland
banefield, especially for racing
dunsoft, immature feathers

Dutch naar beneden, neer

naar benedenfrom a high to a low position, downwards
neerfrom a high to a low position, downwards
naar benedento the south
uitinto a state of non-operation
afinto a state of non-operation
affrom one end to another
naar benedenfrom one end to another
laagon a lower level than before
downdepressed
depridepressed
depressiefdepressed
attento drink or swallow
drinkento drink or swallow
zuipento drink or swallow
pottento pot a ball
laten vallento drop
droppento drop
downAmerican football: a single play
rondeAmerican football: a single play
kwartAmerican football: a single play
heuvelhill, rolling grassland
veldfield, especially for racing
baanfield, especially for racing
donssoft, immature feathers

Esperanto malsupren, suben

malsuprenfrom a high to a low position, downwards
subenfrom a high to a low position, downwards
sudento the south
malurbenaway from the city
malsupraon a lower level than before
subaon a lower level than before
trinkegito drink or swallow
lanugosoft, immature feathers
lanugosoft hair of the face

Estonian alla, allapoole

allafrom a high to a low position, downwards
allapoolefrom a high to a low position, downwards

Finnish alas, alaspäin

alasfrom a high to a low position, downwards
alaspäinfrom a high to a low position, downwards
eteläänto the south
maahansentence substitute for "get down"
pystysuoraanin crosswords
alempanaon a lower level than before
allapäindepressed
alakuloinendepressed
alhaallainoperable; out of service
alempanahaving a lower score
kumotato drink or swallow
pussittaato pot a ball
kaataato drop
kumpuhill, rolling grassland
ratafield, especially for racing
untuvasoft, immature feathers

French à bas, en bas

à basfrom a high to a low position, downwards
en basfrom a high to a low position, downwards
sudto the south
couchésentence substitute for "get down"
descendssentence substitute for "get down"
descendezsentence substitute for "get down"
dépressifdepressed
hors-serviceinoperable; out of service
HSinoperable; out of service
faire cul secto drink or swallow
laisser tomberto drop
duvetsoft, immature feathers
duvetsoft hair of the face

German runter, herunter

runterfrom a high to a low position, downwards
herunterfrom a high to a low position, downwards
hinunterfrom a high to a low position, downwards
geradeausforward, straight ahead
abfrom one end to another
untenon a lower level than before
downdepressed
exento drink or swallow
runterkippento drink or swallow
trinkento drink or swallow
schluckento drink or swallow
versenkento pot a ball
fallen lassento drop
Hügelhill, rolling grassland
Daunesoft, immature feathers

Greek κάτω, κάτω σε

κάτω (káto)from a high to a low position, downwards
κάτω σε (káto se)from one end to another
λοφάκι (lofáki)hill, rolling grassland
πούπουλα (poúpoula)soft, immature feathers
χνούδι (chnoúdi)soft hair of the face

Hawaiian heu, heu

heusoft, immature feathers
heuthe pubescence of plants

Hebrew מַטָּה, מאונך

מַטָּה (máta)from a high to a low position, downwards
מאונךin crosswords

Hindi नीचे, तह

नीचे (nīce)from a high to a low position, downwards
तह (tah)from a high to a low position, downwards
मैदान (maidān)field, especially for racing

Hungarian le, nem működik

lefrom a high to a low position, downwards
nem működikinoperable; out of service
nem üzemelinoperable; out of service
üzemen kívül vaninoperable; out of service
pikkelnegative or hostile to
lehajtto drink or swallow
felhajtto drink or swallow
pihesoft, immature feathers
pihetollsoft, immature feathers
pehelysoft, immature feathers
moholythe pubescence of plants
pihethe pubescence of plants
bolyhosságthe pubescence of plants
bolyhthe pubescence of plants
pihesoft hair of the face

Icelandic niður, dúnn

niðurfrom a high to a low position, downwards
dúnnsoft, immature feathers

Irish síos, anuas

síosfrom a high to a low position, downwards
anuasfrom a high to a low position, downwards
suasto the south
clúmhsoft, immature feathers
an Dúncounty in Northern Ireland
Contae an Dúincounty in Northern Ireland

Italian abbasso, giù

abbassofrom a high to a low position, downwards
giùfrom a high to a low position, downwards
giùsentence substitute for "get down"
piuminosoft, immature feathers
pubescenzathe pubescence of plants

Japanese 下に, 南に

下に (shita ni)from a high to a low position, downwards
南に (minami ni)to the south
下りの (kudari no)rail transport: away from principal terminus
羽毛 (umou)soft, immature feathers
綿毛 (watage)soft, immature feathers
ダウン (daun)soft, immature feathers

Korean 아래에, 아래로

아래에 (arae-e)from a high to a low position, downwards
아래로 (arae-ro)from a high to a low position, downwards
밑으로 (miteuro)from a high to a low position, downwards
남쪽으로 (namjjogeuro)to the south
내려가다 (naeryeogada)away from the city
꺼져 (kkeojeo)into a state of non-operation
닫혀 (dacheo)into a state of non-operation
아래로 (araero)from one end to another
멈춘 (meomchun)inoperable; out of service
솜털 (somteol)soft, immature feathers

Latin deorsum, pessum

deorsumfrom a high to a low position, downwards
pessumfrom a high to a low position, downwards
lānūgōthe pubescence of plants
lānūgōsoft hair of the face

Latvian lejā, uz leju

lejāfrom a high to a low position, downwards
uz lejufrom a high to a low position, downwards
lejupfrom a high to a low position, downwards

Lithuanian pūkas

pūkassoft, immature feathers

Malay sedih, murung

sedihdepressed
murungdepressed
tegukto drink or swallow

Māori iho, ki raro

ihofrom a high to a low position, downwards
ki rarofrom a high to a low position, downwards
tongato the south
pakaruinto a state of non-operation
hunesoft, immature feathers
tāhunathe pubescence of plants
tāhunethe pubescence of plants
tāhungathe pubescence of plants

Norwegian ned

nedfrom a high to a low position, downwards

Norwegian Bokmål loddrett, dun

loddrettin crosswords
dunsoft, immature feathers
dunthe pubescence of plants

Persian پایین, میدان

پایین (pâyin)from a high to a low position, downwards
میدان (meydân)field, especially for racing

Polish na dół, w dół

na dółfrom a high to a low position, downwards
w dółfrom a high to a low position, downwards
pionowoin crosswords
puchsoft, immature feathers

Portuguese abaixo, para baixo

abaixofrom a high to a low position, downwards
para baixofrom a high to a low position, downwards
jusofrom a high to a low position, downwards
embaixoto the south
foraaway from the city
porfrom one end to another
através defrom one end to another
baixoon a lower level than before
tristedepressed
deprimidodepressed
borocoxôdepressed
em baixoinoperable; out of service
engolirto drink or swallow
colinahill, rolling grassland
penugemsoft, immature feathers
buçosoft hair of the face

Punjabi ਹੇਠਾਂ

ਹੇਠਾਂ (heṭhā̃)from a high to a low position, downwards

Romanian jos, în jos

josfrom a high to a low position, downwards
în josfrom a high to a low position, downwards
spre-n josfrom a high to a low position, downwards
la sudto the south
căzutdepressed
deprimatdepressed
pufsoft, immature feathers
pufthe pubescence of plants
pufsoft hair of the face
tuleisoft hair of the face

Russian вниз, кни́зу

вниз (vniz)from a high to a low position, downwards
кни́зу (knízu)from a high to a low position, downwards
на ю́ге (na júge)to the south
на юг (whither)to the south
за го́родом (za górodom)away from the city
за́ го́род (whither)away from the city
вперёд (vperjód)forward, straight ahead
вы́ключен (výključen)into a state of non-operation
лежит (ležit)into a state of non-operation
спусти́ться (spustítʹsja)sentence substitute for "get down"
по вертика́ли (po vertikáli)in crosswords
вниз (vniz)from one end to another
вдоль (vdolʹ)from one end to another
по (po)from one end to another
снижа́ющийся (snižájuščijsja)on a lower level than before
печа́льный (pečálʹnyj)depressed
пода́вленный (podávlennyj)depressed
лежащий (ležaščij)inoperable; out of service
вы́пить за́лпом (výpitʹ zálpom)to drink or swallow
урони́ть (uronítʹ)to drop
свали́ть (svalítʹ)to drop
сбить (sbitʹ)to drop
холм (xolm)hill, rolling grassland
безле́сая возвы́шенность (bezlésaja vozvýšennostʹ)hill, rolling grassland
пух (pux)soft, immature feathers
пушо́к (pušók)soft, immature feathers
Да́ун (Dáun)county in Northern Ireland

Scottish Gaelic sìos, a-bhuas

sìosfrom a high to a low position, downwards
a-bhuasfrom a high to a low position, downwards
a-bhànfrom a high to a low position, downwards
a-nuasfrom a high to a low position, downwards
deasto the south
a-machaway from the city
sìosinto a state of non-operation
a-bhànfrom one end to another
sìosfrom one end to another
lefrom one end to another
sguab àsto drink or swallow
clòimhsoft, immature feathers
clòimhteachsoft, immature feathers

Slovak dolu, páperie

dolufrom a high to a low position, downwards
páperiesoft, immature feathers

Spanish (para) abajo, abajo

(para) abajofrom a high to a low position, downwards
abajosentence substitute for "get down"
porfrom one end to another
que no está funcionando/funcandoinoperable; out of service
plumónsoft, immature feathers
flojelsoft, immature feathers
vellosoft hair of the face
lanugosoft hair of the face

Swahili chini, chini

chinifrom a high to a low position, downwards
chiniinto a state of non-operation
chinisentence substitute for "get down"

Swedish ned, ner

nedfrom a high to a low position, downwards
nerfrom a high to a low position, downwards
lodrättin crosswords
neredepressed
dunsoft, immature feathers

Thai ลง, ลง

ลง (long)from a high to a low position, downwards
ลง (long)from one end to another
ต่ำ (dtàm)on a lower level than before
ขนอุย (kǒn-ui)soft, immature feathers

Turkish kuş tüyü, tüy

kuş tüyüsoft, immature feathers
tüysoft, immature feathers
puflasoft, immature feathers
ayva tüyüsoft hair of the face

Ukrainian вниз, дони́зу

вниз (vnyz)from a high to a low position, downwards
дони́зу (donýzu)from a high to a low position, downwards
уни́з (unýz)from a high to a low position, downwards
доліли́ць (dolilýcʹ)from a high to a low position, downwards
ниць (nycʹ)from a high to a low position, downwards
на пі́вдень (na pívdenʹ)to the south
на пі́вдні (na pívdni)to the south
півде́нніше (pivdénniše)to the south
за мі́сто (za místo)away from the city
за мі́стом (za místom)away from the city
по́за мі́стом (póza místom)away from the city
попе́реду (popéredu)forward, straight ahead
уни́з (unýz)from one end to another
вниз (vnyz)from one end to another
дони́зу (donýzu)from one end to another
додо́лу (dodólu)from one end to another
зни́жений (znýženyj)on a lower level than before
пригні́чений (pryhníčenyj)depressed
журбе́нний (žurbénnyj)depressed
зажу́рений (zažúrenyj)depressed
сумни́й (sumnýj)depressed
сумови́тий (sumovýtyj)depressed
сумува́тий (sumuvátyj)depressed
журни́й (žurnýj)depressed
зла́маний (zlámanyj)inoperable; out of service
не працю́є (ne pracjúje)inoperable; out of service
хиля́ти (xyljáty)to drink or swallow
впуска́ти (vpuskáty)to drop
упуска́ти (upuskáty)to drop
впусти́ти (vpustýty)to drop
упусти́ти (upustýty)to drop
па́горб (páhorb)hill, rolling grassland
іподро́м (ipodróm)field, especially for racing
пух (pux)soft, immature feathers
пух (pux)the pubescence of plants
пух (pux)soft hair of the face
пушо́к (pušók)soft hair of the face

Urdu نیچے

نیچے (nīce)from a high to a low position, downwards

Vietnamese xuống, vào

xuốngfrom a high to a low position, downwards
vàoto the south
cạnto drink or swallow

Welsh i lawr, lawr

i lawrfrom one end to another
lawrfrom one end to another
manblusoft, immature feathers
manflewthe pubescence of plants
goflewthe pubescence of plants
manflewsoft hair of the face
blewiachsoft hair of the face

Yiddish דורך

דורך (durkh)from one end to another

Rhymes & wordplay

Cite this entry

APA

down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down

MLA

“down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “down,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/down.

Source: down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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