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View synonyms for downward

downward

[ doun-werd ]

adverb

  1. Also downwards. from a higher to a lower place or condition.
  2. down from a source or beginning:

    As the river flows downward, it widens.

  3. from a past time, predecessor, or ancestor:

    The estate was handed downward from generation to generation.



adjective

  1. moving or tending to a lower place or condition.
  2. descending from a source or beginning.

downward

/ ˈdaʊnwəd /

adjective

  1. descending from a higher to a lower level, condition, position, etc
  2. descending from a beginning


adverb

  1. a variant of downwards

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Derived Forms

  • ˈdownwardness, noun
  • ˈdownwardly, adverb

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Other Words From

  • downward·ly adverb
  • downward·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of downward1

1150–1200; Middle English dounward, aphetic variant of adounward, Old English adūnweard. See down 1, -ward

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Example Sentences

The now-convicted felons will hear their sentences in January, but their story continues to spiral downward.

This downward spiral involving local power politics was obvious to the Americans in the valley.

To his fellow survivors and to the audience, this delusion indicates another slip on a downward spiral.

All of these rules grew organically from the community rather than being dictated downward by a cen­tral authority.

The number of families who struggle to put food on the table has barely inched downward, even though employment is up.

Now here was a lover's meeting, not lacking the shy, downward glance of dark eyes as steel-blue eyes flashed frank admiration.

Their path here separated, Mrs. Martin following the downward course of the sandy lane, and Dorothy climbing the hill.

One swift downward thrust Garnache made at the mass that wriggled under his cloak.

Rising to a point where it cools, the vapour gathers back on the rafts and tends again to weight the cloud downward.

When they start downward they have, as observations show, a temperature not much above the freezing point of salt water.

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