Downward
/ˈdaʊnwərd/
Definitions
2 meaningsMoving or pointing in a direction toward a lower level or position.
/ˈdaʊnwərd/
Moving or pointing in a direction towards a lower level.
The plane's trajectory was downward after the engine failure.
💡 Simply: Think of a slide at the playground! It goes downward, meaning you're going from a higher place to a lower place. Businesses might say profits are going 'downward' if they're making less money than before.
👶 For kids: Going down, like when you go down the slide or down the stairs!
More Examples
She felt a downward pull as the elevator descended.
The artist painted a downward curve on the canvas.
How It's Used
"The downward slope of the hill made it easy to cycle."
"The company saw a downward trend in profits last quarter."
Towards a lower place or level.
/ˈdaʊnwərd/
She looked downward at her phone.
💡 Simply: It's like saying, "Go down!" It means you're moving or looking in a downward direction, like when you're looking at something on the ground.
👶 For kids: Going down, like when you go down the slide!
More Examples
The roller coaster plunged downward.
The rain poured downward, soaking the ground.
How It's Used
"He looked downward at his feet."
"The economy is trending downward."
Idioms & expressions
downward spiral
A continuous worsening or decline.
"The company's financial situation entered a downward spiral."
From Middle English *dounward*, from Old English *dūne weard* (“downward, towards the ground”), equivalent to *down* + *ward*. *Ward* as a suffix signifies direction.
Used consistently since the Middle Ages to indicate a direction towards a lower place.
Memory tip
Imagine a drawing of an arrow pointing DOWNWARD.
Word Origin
"downward, towards the ground"