down the line

1 of 2

phrase

Synonyms of down the linenext
1
: all the way : fully
supported him right down the line
2
: in the future
planning some further changes down the line
problems that might occur a few years down the line

down-the-line

2 of 2

adjective

ˈdau̇n-ṯẖə-ˈlīn How to pronounce down-the-line (audio)
: complete
a down-the-line union supporter

Synonyms of down the line

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of down the line in a Sentence

Adjective a down-the-line supporter of the Republican Party
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Phrase
But in the first swing of the match, Nakashima botched his first serve, and on his second, Shelton sent a booming 97 mph lefty forehand down the line that curled into the court to earn the break. — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Whereas Blue Bloods was Irish Catholic traditional down the line. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
While down-the-line voting has often scored huge, the 2026 Emmys may shake up the usual tradition. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 24 July 2026 Instead of the same wider down-the-line shots, the network showed tighter solo shots of select players, including Stephon Castle, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, as well as both head coaches. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for down the line

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of down the line was in 1926

Rhymes for down the line

See All Rhymes for down the line

Browse Nearby Words

down the hatch
down the line
down-the-line
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Down the line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down%20the%20line. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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