First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1down
adverb \ˈdau̇n\
: from a higher to a lower place or position
: in a low position or place
: to or toward the ground or floor
Full Definition of DOWN
1
a (1) : toward or in a lower physical position (2) : to a lying or sitting position (3) : toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom b : as a down payment <paid $10 down> c : on paper <put down what he says>
2
: in a direction that is the opposite of up: as a : southward b : to or toward a point away from the speaker or the speaker's point of reference c : in or into the stomach <can't keep food down>
3
: to a lesser degree, level, or rate <cool down tensions>
4
: to or toward a lower position in a series
5
a : to or in a lower or worse condition or status b —used to indicate thoroughness or completion <dusted down the house> <described him down to his haircut>
6
: from a past time <stories passed down by word of mouth>
7
: to or in a state of less activity or prominence
8
: to a concentrated state <got the report down to three pages>
9
: into defeat <voted the motion down>
— down to the ground
: perfectly, completely <that suits me down to the ground>
See down defined for English-language learners
Origin of DOWN
Middle English doun, from Old English dūne, short for adūne, of dūne, from a- (from of), of off, from + dūne, dative of dūn hill
2down
preposition
: from a higher to a lower part of (something)
: along the course or path of (something)
Full Definition of DOWN
: down along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on <fell down the stairs> <down the years>
See down defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DOWN
14th century
3down
verb
: to cause (something) to fall to the ground
: to eat or drink (something) especially quickly
American football : to cause (a football) to be out of play
Full Definition of DOWN
transitive verb
1
: to cause to go or come down: as a : bring down 1 <downed the enemy helicopter> b : consume 3 <downing slices of pizza>
2
: to cause (a football) to be out of play
3
: defeat <down a proposal>
intransitive verb
: to go down
See down defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DOWN
1562
Related to DOWN
- Synonyms
- bowl (down or over), fell, drop, floor, knock down, knock over, level, mow (down), prostrate
4down
adjective
: in a low place or position : on the ground or floor
: going downward
: lower in price or value
Full Definition of DOWN
1
a (1) : occupying a low position; specifically : lying on the ground <down timber> (2) : directed or going downward <attendance is down> b : lower in price c : not being in play in football because of wholly stopped progress or because the officials stop the play <the ball was down> d : defeated or trailing an opponent (as in points scored) <down by two runs> e baseball : out <two down in the top of the third inning>
2
a : reduced or low in activity, frequency, or intensity <a down economy> b : not operating or able to function <the computer is down> c : depressed, dejected <feeling a bit down>; also : depressing <a down movie> d : sick <down with flu>
4
: completely mastered <had her lines down> —often used with pat <got the answers down pat>
5
a slang : cool 7 b slang : understanding or supportive of something or someone —usually used with with <trying to prove that they were down with hip-hop culture — J. E. White>
6
: being on record <you're down for two tickets>
— down on
: having a low opinion of or dislike for
— down on one's luck
: experiencing misfortune and especially financial distress
See down defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DOWN
circa 1565
Related to DOWN
- Synonyms
- completed, concluded, done, complete, ended, finished, over, over with, terminated, through, up
- Antonyms
- continuing, incomplete, ongoing, uncompleted, undone, unfinished
5down
noun
Definition of DOWN
1
2
: an instance of putting down
3
a : a complete play to advance the ball in football b : one of a series of four attempts in American football or three attempts in Canadian football to advance the ball 10 yards
5
: downer
6
: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of -1⁄3 and that is one of the constituents of a nucleon
First Known Use of DOWN
1710
6down
noun
Definition of DOWN
1
: an undulating usually treeless upland with sparse soil —usually used in plural
2
often capitalized : a sheep of any breed originating in the downs of southern England
Origin of DOWN
Middle English doun hill, from Old English dūn
First Known Use: 14th century
7down
noun
Definition of DOWN
1
: a covering of soft fluffy feathers; also : these feathers
2
: something soft and fluffy like down
Origin of DOWN
Middle English doun, from Old Norse dūnn
First Known Use: 14th century
Down
noun
Definition of DOWN
: down syndrome —usually used attributively <a Down baby>
First Known Use of DOWN
1994
Down
geographical name \ˈdau̇n\
Definition of DOWN
1
district SE Northern Ireland, established 1974 area 250 square miles (650 square kilometers), pop 57,511
2
traditional county SE Northern Ireland
DOWN Defined for Kids
1down
adverb \ˈdau̇n\
Definition of DOWN for Kids
1
: toward or in a lower position <He jumped up and down.>
2
: to a lying or sitting position <Please sit down.>
3
: toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom <She fell down.>
4
: below the horizon <The sun went down.>
5
: to or toward the south <We're heading down to Florida.>
6
: in or into the stomach <They gulped down lunch.>
7
: as a down payment <I paid five dollars down.>
8
: on paper <Write this down.>
9
: to a lower level or rate <Turn the volume down.> <Slow down.>
10
: to a weaker or worse condition <The quality of their food has gone down.>
11
: from a past time <These stories were handed down.>
12
: to or in a state of less activity <Everyone quiet down, please.>
13
: in a way that limits movement <Tie the load down.>
2down
preposition
Definition of DOWN for Kids
1
: from a higher to a lower point of something <She climbed down the ladder.>
2
: along the course or path of <We walked down the beach.>
3down
verb
downeddown·ing
Definition of DOWN for Kids
1
: to go or cause to go or come to the ground <Wind downed the power line.>
2
: eat 1 <They downed their lunch.>
3
: 1defeat 2 <Voters downed the new law.>
4down
adjective
Definition of DOWN for Kids
1
: in a low position <The window shades are down.>
2
: directed or going downward <the down escalator>
3
: at a lower level <Sales were down.>
4
: having a lower score <Our team is down by two.>
5
: sad 1 <You look so down. What's wrong?>
6
: not working <The system is down.>
7
: finished or completed <I have two down, and two to go.>
8
: learned completely <I have the dance steps down.>
5down
noun
Definition of DOWN for Kids
: a low or falling period <Life has its ups and downs.>
6down
noun
Definition of DOWN for Kids
: a high area of land with low hills and no trees —usually used in pl. <the grassy downs>
7down
noun
Definition of DOWN for Kids
1
: soft fluffy feathers <goose down>
2
: small soft hairs <the down of a peach>
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