Definition of downnext
1
as in downward
toward or in a lower position the stairs went down to the basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in away
from this or that place came down from New York for the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

down

2 of 6

adjective

1
2
as in lowered
directed down a down escalator

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness feeling a bit down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6

down

3 of 6

noun (1)

as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering a comforter filled with goose down

Synonyms & Similar Words

down

4 of 6

noun (2)

1
as in accident
something (as a situation or event) that is depressing lately it's been one down after another in my life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude suffered with a psychological disorder in which she alternated between emotional ups and downs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

down

5 of 6

noun (3)

down

6 of 6

verb

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 down
Adverb
Graduate recruitment is down, and employment tribunal cases involving neurodivergence have surged by 95% in five years. Nancy Doyle, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Shooting incidents are down 7%, to 389 from 417, and the number of shooting victims is also down, 5%, to 471 from 494. Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
On the edge, Dre’Mont Jones tallied a pressure in team drills, and Elijah Ponder had a down day relative to some recent practices. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026 Despite the Chiefs having a down year and missing the playoffs, Kelce was still productive last season. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
Knight was sentenced to prison in 1997 for a probation violation stemming from the beat-down of Anderson. Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 The Child Mind Institute reminds families to expect some resistance as children return to more school-like hours, to give kids time to ease back in and to plan for ups and downs rather than assuming the first few days will go perfectly. Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
It is therefore always served as a shot, to be downed in one. Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 His penchant for downing bottles of wine throughout his life seemed reasonable. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for down
Adverb
  • After healthier payroll increases in May and June were revised downward to 63,000 and 20,000 respectively, payroll growth for the past 3 months averages just 20,000 and for the past 2 months has been completely flat.
    Harry Holzer, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Her government has launched an unprecedented campaign of arrests, extraditions, laboratory seizures, and intelligence operations that has helped drive fentanyl trafficking sharply downward.
    Chris Shays, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • This coming season sees City with a new manager in Enzo Maresca, who has big shoes to fill given Guardiola’s immensely successful 10-season reign before stepping away in late May.
    Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Which of them partners Virgil van Dijk in the opening game of the season away to Newcastle is the decision Iraola has to make.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The video starts with an up-close view of the shiny, 171-foot-tall (52 meters) Ship.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 31 July 2026
  • Here, your favorite chart-toppers reveal the meaning behind their new project, break down their songwriting process, and offer an up-close glimpse at life backstage.
    Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • The lowered rating comes after AppLovin posted mixed results for the second quarter and third-quarter profit guidance that missed expectations, sending shares lower by more than 16% in the premarket.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
  • That refusal to accept lowered expectations carried him to being Chairman of Nike’s Jordan Brand and leading the Portland Trail Blazers.
    Laurel Donnellan, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Adjective
  • By mid-December, Clancy was feeling very depressed, Tufts said.
    Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • While there is plenty of food, everyone looks pretty depressed.
    William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • People without risk factors generally do not get sick or display symptoms from Candida auris.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The river boat passenger had become sick and disembarked nearly three weeks ago in Pimu, in the province of Mongala, more than 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa along the Congo River, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on Thursday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Here, the two twin in camel coats in an off-duty moment at Paris Fashion Week 2022.
    Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • With a number of off days on the upcoming schedule and five healthy starters already in their rotation, the Yankees should be able to make that strategy work without taxing their bullpen.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Located in the heart of the Marais, a restaurant at the Centre Pompidou would have to be pretty special to compete against all the excellent neighboring options.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/down. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on down

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!