downward — down‧ward [ˈdaʊnwəd ǁ wərd] also downwards adverb towards a lower position or level: • Inflation for June was lower at 3.9%, and the underlying trend appears downward. • Competition forces prices downwards. downward adjective : • Brazil s debt… … Financial and business terms
Downward — Down ward, Downwards Down wards, adv. [AS. ad?nweard. See {Down}, adv., and { ward}.] 1. From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. Looking downwards. Pope. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
downward — downward, downwards The only form for the adjective is downward (in a downward direction), but downward and downwards are both used for the adverb, with a preference for downwards in BrE: • She ferreted in her bag; then held it up mouth downwards … Modern English usage
downward — c.1200, from DOWN (Cf. down) (adv.) + WARD (Cf. ward). O.E. had aduneweard in this sense. Downwards, with adverbial genitive, had a parallel in O.E. ofduneweardes … Etymology dictionary
downward — ► ADVERB (also downwards) ▪ towards a lower point or level. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ moving towards a lower point or level. DERIVATIVES downwardly adverb … English terms dictionary
downward — [doun′wərd] adv., adj. [ME dounward < OE aduneweard: see DOWN1 & WARD] 1. toward a lower place, position, state, etc. 2. from an earlier to a later time: Also downwards adv. downwardly adv … English World dictionary
downward — down|ward1 [ daunwərd ] adverb * toward a lower place or level: He looked downward. face downward 1. ) lying on the front of your body: He found her lying face downward on her bed. 2. ) lying on the side that normally faces up: She placed the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
downward — [[t]da͟ʊnwə(r)d[/t]] 1) ADJ: ADJ n A downward movement or look is directed towards a lower place or a lower level. → See also downwards ...a firm downward movement of the hands. Ant: upward 2) ADJ: ADJ n If you refer to a downward trend, you mean … English dictionary
downward — I UK [ˈdaʊnwə(r)d] / US [ˈdaʊnwərd] adjective [usually before noun] * going towards a lower place or level a downward slope/movement a downward trend in interest rates downward spiral: The region has been in a downward economic spiral since then … English dictionary
downward — down|ward [ˈdaunwəd US wərd] adj [only before noun] 1.) moving or pointing towards a lower position ≠ ↑upward ▪ a gentle downward slope 2.) moving to a lower level ≠ ↑upward ▪ Share prices continued their downward trend . ▪ She was caught in a… … Dictionary of contemporary English
