Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

downward

/ˈdaʊnwɚd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.71 in modern English

Syllables: down-ward
IPA: /ˈdaʊnwɚd/

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

Toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value.

adv

At a lower level.

adv

adj

Moving, sloping or oriented down.

adj

Located at a lower level.

Example Sentences

"His position in society moved ever downward."
"Prices have drifted downward in recent weeks."
"The natural disasters put downward pressure on the creditworthiness of the nation’s insurance groups."
"[A] ring the county wears, / That downward hath succeeded in his house / From son to son, some four or five descents"
"They call her Daffadill: / Whoſe preſence as ſhe went along, / The prety flowers did greet, / As though their heads they downward bent, / With homage to her feete."
"Novv you muſt bee ſure […] to carry the point or top of the Rod dovvnevvard; by vvhich meanes the ſhadovv of your ſelfe, and Rod too vvill be the leaſt offenſive to the Fiſh, for the ſight of any ſhadovv amazes the fiſh, and ſpoiles your ſport, of vvhich you muſt take a great care."

Etymology

Etymology tree English down Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English downward From down + -ward.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdaʊnwɚd/
British English: /ˈdaʊnwəd/

Derived Forms

downwardly downwardness nondownward

Phrases

downward dog downward drift downward-facing dog downward spiral

Synonyms

down downwards downwardly

Antonyms

up upwards

Questions

How do you pronounce downward?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdaʊnwɚd/.
What does downward mean?: Toward a lower level, whether in physical space, in a hierarchy, or in amount or value.
Where does downward come from?: Etymology tree English down Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English downward From down + -ward.

How to pronounce downward

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