down
down
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "down" is /daʊn/.
down: /daʊn/
/daʊ/ (diphthong)
/n/ (nasal consonant)
Word Form Variations
down (base form, can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or preposition)
downs (plural noun; third-person singular present tense verb)
downed (past tense and past participle verb)
downing (present participle and gerund verb)
downer (noun, slang)
downest (superlative adjective, less common)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
I. Noun
Definition 1: A soft, fine layer of feathers or hair, typically found on young birds or certain animals, prized for its warmth and lightness.
Synonyms: fluff, plumage, fuzz, pile
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; refers to a specific material)
Definition 2: A period of misfortune, depression, or decline.
Synonyms: slump, low, dip, downturn, trough
Antonyms: upswing, boom, peak, high, rise
II. Verb
Definition 1: To cause something to move from a higher to a lower position; to bring to the ground.
Synonyms: lower, drop, fell, topple, submerge
Antonyms: raise, lift, elevate, hoist, buoy
Definition 2: To consume a drink or food quickly.
Synonyms: gulp, quaff, chug, devour, wolf
Antonyms: sip, nibble, savor, peck
III. Adjective
Definition 1: Directed or moving towards a lower place or position.
Synonyms: downward, descending, sunken, fallen
Antonyms: upward, ascending, rising, elevated
Definition 2: Feeling sad, unhappy, or depressed.
Synonyms: glum, dejected, blue, dispirited, melancholic
Antonyms: happy, cheerful, upbeat, elated, joyous
Definition 3: Fully prepared or finalized (often used informally).
Synonyms: ready, set, prepared, agreed, finalized
Antonyms: undecided, uncertain, pending, unready
IV. Adverb
Definition 1: Towards a lower place, position, or level.
Synonyms: downward, below, beneath, earthward
Antonyms: upward, above, overhead, skyward
Definition 2: From an earlier time or higher position to a later time or lower position.
Synonyms: along, through, throughout (in context of time passing)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; depends on context)
V. Preposition
Definition 1: From a higher to a lower point of.
Synonyms: along, through, from top to bottom of
Antonyms: up, upon (in a sense of moving upwards)
VI. Interjection
Definition 1: Used to express agreement or affirmation (often informal).
Synonyms: yes, indeed, alright, absolutely, agreed
Antonyms: no, nay, nope, disagree
Examples of Use
Books:
"He lay down in the tall grass, feeling the sun warm on his face, and watched the clouds drift by." (From "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, originally published 1911)
"The old man sat down heavily on the bench, his shoulders slumped in defeat." (From "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway, originally published September 1952)
Newspapers:
"The local economy has seen a significant downturn in recent months, with many businesses reporting reduced profits." (The Daily Nation)
"Police officers successfully talked a distraught individual down from the bridge ledge." (The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Google's services were down for several hours this morning, impacting users globally." (TechCrunch)
"Experts weigh in on why the housing market is heading down and what it means for buyers and sellers." (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film (Dialogue): "Get down! They're shooting!" (From the film "Saving Private Ryan," released July 1998)
Music (Song Title): "Upside Down" (Song by Jack Johnson, released March 2006)
Television (Show Title): "Downton Abbey" (British historical drama series, first aired September 2010)
Video Game (Instructional Text): "Press 'X' to crouch down and take cover." (Common instruction in many action-adventure video games, e.g., "Call of Duty," various releases)
Podcast (Discussion): "We're going to break down the latest political developments in our next segment." (The Daily, The New York Times, December 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm feeling a bit down today after hearing the news." (Everyday conversation)
"Let's head down to the market this afternoon and pick up some fresh produce." (Casual conversation)
"The company is really cracking down on unauthorized software use." (Workplace discussion)
"Are you down for grabbing some dinner later?" (Informal social invitation)
10 Quotes Using Down
"Never put down to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity." (Robert J. Hanlon)
"The only way out is through. If you can't go over it, you have to go under it. If you can't go through it, you have to break it down." (Robert Frost)
"Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground." (Theodore Roosevelt) - Though "ground" is used, the implied downward direction is central to the quote's meaning.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." (Dr. Seuss) - While not explicitly using "down," this is a commonly attributed quote that reflects a shift from feeling down to feeling positive, and many variations exist that do include the word.
"When you're going through hell, keep going." (Winston Churchill) - This quote implies a difficult, "down" period that one must persist through.
"It always seems impossible until it's done." (Nelson Mandela) - This quote speaks to overcoming obstacles that might bring one down.
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." (Lao Tzu) - This quote, while not using "down," is a classic that could be interpreted as starting from a neutral or "down" position towards a grand goal.
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche) - This quote speaks to enduring hardship or being "down" and emerging more resilient.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." (Peter Drucker) - This quote, while not using "down," focuses on proactive creation rather than being limited or brought "down" by circumstances.
"If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up." (Booker T. Washington) - This quote uses "up," but the act of lifting implies the opposite of bringing someone down.
Etymology
The word "down" actually has a couple of different origins, which explains why it has so many meanings today!
The most common meaning of "down," referring to a lower position or direction, comes from Old English. It was originally "ofdūne," which literally meant "off from the hill." The word "dūne" itself meant "hill" or "height," and it's related to the word "dune" that we use for sand hills. So, when you say something is "going down," you're essentially saying it's moving "off the hill." This sense of the word, as an adverb (describing direction), has been in use since the Old English period (before 1150).
Separately, the noun "down" that refers to the soft, fluffy feathers (like in a down pillow) comes from a different source: Old Norse, specifically the word "dūnn." This usage appeared in English around the mid-14th century.
So, it's a bit like two different words that happened to end up looking and sounding the same in modern English, both contributing to the rich variety of ways we use "down" today!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Down
Down and out: Destitute; without resources or prospects.
Down in the dumps: Sad or depressed.
Down to earth: Practical and realistic.
To get down to business: To start dealing with the main topic or task.
To calm down: To become less agitated or upset.
To break down: To stop functioning (for a machine or system); to have an emotional collapse.
To let someone down: To disappoint someone.
To talk down to someone: To speak to someone in a condescending way.
To settle down: To become calm, stable, or to establish a permanent life.
To knuckle down: To apply oneself seriously to a task.
To water down: To make something weaker or less effective, often by adding water.
To get something down pat: To have mastered something perfectly.
To come down to: To be essentially a matter of; to depend on.
To pin down: To identify precisely or confirm; to restrict someone's movement.
To put down: To criticize or humiliate; to kill (an animal) humanely.
To be down with something: To be in agreement with or enthusiastic about something (informal).
To be down for the count: To be defeated or unable to continue.
To write down: To record something in writing.
Down the road: In the future.
To look down on someone: To consider someone inferior.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of down from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
