down·ward
ˈdau̇n-wərd 
variants
or downwards
1
a
: from a higher to a lower place
b
: toward a direction that is the opposite of up
2
: from a higher to a lower condition
3
a
: from an earlier time
b
: from an ancestor or predecessor
1
: moving or extending downward
2
: descending from a head, origin, or source
downwardly
adverb
downwardness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of downward in a Sentence
Adverb
The mountain streams flow downward to the lake.
Mud covered his pants from the knees downward.
Adjective
Sales continued their downward trend.
the downward revision of an estimate
Recent Examples on the Web
Luis Martinez, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025
Investors and analysts are now wondering if that’s money well spent, with Nvidia, Microsoft, and other companies with substantial stakes in maintaining the AI status quo all trending downward in pre-market trading.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 27 Jan. 2025
Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
Army statistics show that last year saw the biggest spike in aviation mishaps in more than a decade following years of a downward trend.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for downward 
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.
Adverb
Last year's increase came after a period of time when the number of mishaps had trended downward.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025
Investors and analysts are now wondering if that’s money well spent, with Nvidia, Microsoft, and other companies with substantial stakes in maintaining the AI status quo all trending downward in pre-market trading.
—Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Further, if inflation continues its downward trend, there is also the possibility that prices for many consumer staples could fall in the year ahead, Heragu said.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
Army statistics show that last year saw the biggest spike in aviation mishaps in more than a decade following years of a downward trend.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for downward
Dictionary Entries Near downward
Cite this Entry
“Downward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downward. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downward
1 of 2 adverb
down·ward
ˈdau̇n-wərd
variants
or downwards
1
: from a higher place or condition to a lower one
2
: from an earlier time
downward
2 of 2 adjective
: moving or reaching down
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share