downward
gb/dˈaʊnwɚd/ us/dˈaʊnwɚd/
B1
English
~ 5600
csökkenő, lefelé irányuló, lefelé vezető, lejtős, lefelé, -tól/-től lefelé, és annál fiatalabb
B2
1
csökkenő
A2
Usage pattern:
a downward [trend/pressure/movement]
The company has seen a downward trend in sales over the past year.
A cég eladásai az elmúlt évben csökkenő tendenciát mutattak.
There is strong downward pressure on housing prices in the region.
A régióban erős lefelé irányuló nyomás nehezedik a lakásárakra.
Economists expect a slight downward adjustment to next quarter’s growth forecast.
The graph shows a steady downward movement in unemployment rates.
After a downward revision of earnings, the stock price fell again.
Learner examples
The chart shows a clear downward trend in prices.
A diagram az árak egyértelmű csökkenő tendenciáját mutatja.
There is downward pressure on wages in many jobs.
Sok munkakörben lefelé irányuló nyomás nehezedik a bérekre.
We can see a slow downward movement in the numbers.
The bank made a downward revision of its forecast.
Sales are on a downward path this year.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *down* instead of *downward* before a noun, e.g. saying *a down trend* instead of *a downward trend*. Use *downward* as an adjective before a noun to describe a general movement or change, especially in statistics or business.
Meaning
decreasing in level or amount
Collocations
downward trend
|downward pressure
|downward movement
|downward revision
|downward adjustment
|downward shift
Synonyms
declining (Common in business and statistics; focuses on steady decrease.)
|
falling (More general and informal; can describe sudden or gradual decrease.)
Antonyms
upward (Describes movement or change to a higher level, value, or amount.)
|
rising (Emphasizes going up in level, value, or amount.)
Themes
business
|economics
|science
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going to a lower level, value, or amount over time.
Showing or describing movement or change to a lower level, value, or amount, especially over a period of time.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a downward [slope/path/look]
We followed a gentle downward slope to the lake.
Egy enyhe lejtőn haladtunk lefelé a tóhoz.
The road takes a sharp downward turn after the bridge.
A híd után az út hirtelen meredeken lejteni kezd.
She avoided eye contact and kept a downward gaze.
The ball started a fast downward motion from the top of the hill.
Engineers must account for the downward force of gravity on the structure.
Learner examples
The path has a slow downward slope.
Az ösvény enyhén lejt lefelé.
He walked along a downward road to the village.
Egy lefelé vezető úton ment a faluba.
She looked at the floor with a downward gaze.
The car rolled in a downward direction.
There is a strong downward pull from gravity.
Common mistake:
Learners may say *down slope* instead of *downward slope* when they want to describe the general direction or shape of the land. *Down* is more often used as an adverb (*walk down the hill*), while *downward* is a more standard adjective before a noun (*a downward slope*).
Meaning
sloping or moving to a lower place
Collocations
downward slope
|downward angle
|downward path
|downward force
|downward gaze
|downward motion
Synonyms
descending (More formal and often used for movement down stairs, slopes, or through the air.)
|
sloping down (Describes the shape of a surface more than active movement.)
Antonyms
upward (Describes sloping or moving from lower to higher physical position.)
|
uphill (Refers specifically to movement or slope toward higher ground.)
Themes
nature
|travel
|daily life
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Going or pointing from high to low in space.
Sloping, pointing, or moving from a higher place to a lower place in physical space.
B1
3
lefelé
A2
Usage pattern:
move [something] downward
The rock slipped and rolled downward into the valley.
A kő megcsúszott, és legurult a völgybe.
She pointed downward to show the crack in the floor.
Lefelé mutatott, hogy megmutassa a padlón lévő repedést.
Smoke rose upward while ash drifted downward.
He slowly lowered his hand downward from the shelf.
The elevator moved rapidly downward to the ground floor.
Learner examples
The ball moves downward after you throw it.
A labda lefelé halad, miután eldobod.
Please slide the window downward to close it.
Kérlek, csúsztasd lefelé az ablakot, hogy becsukd.
She looked downward at her phone.
Leaves fell downward from the tree.
He pushed the handle downward to open the door.
Common mistake:
Learners often use *downwards* or *down* where *downward* is also possible. All three are usually correct, but *down* is more common in speech, and *downward* or *downwards* sound slightly more formal or written. Do not say *to downward* as a preposition; use *downward* as an adverb after a verb: *move downward*, not *go to downward*.
Meaning
toward a lower place
Collocations
fall downward
|push downward
|pull downward
|move downward
|look downward
Synonyms
down (More common and informal in everyday speech; slightly less formal than *downward*.)
|
downhill (Emphasizes moving down a slope rather than just to a lower point.)
Antonyms
upward (Means toward a higher place or level.)
|
up (Everyday adverb meaning toward a higher position.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|sports
|space
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To or toward a lower place or level.
Toward or to a lower place or level in physical space.
C1
4
Usage pattern:
from [age/level/rank] downward
The new rule applies to all employees from managers downward.
Az új szabály a menedzserektől lefelé minden alkalmazottra vonatkozik.
The discount is available for children from age twelve downward.
A kedvezmény a tizenkét éves és annál fiatalabb gyerekeknek jár.
Corruption was found throughout the organization, from the board downward.
The competition is open to students from the final year downward.
The disease affected the whole population, from the elderly downward.
Learner examples
The team is strong from the captain downward.
A csapat a kapitánytól lefelé minden szinten erős.
This class is for children from age ten downward.
Ez a foglalkozás a tízéves és annál fiatalabb gyerekeknek szól.
The policy covers workers from supervisors downward.
The show is fun for adults and from teenagers downward.
The change will affect everyone from the boss downward.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *from 10 and downward* or *from 10 to downward*. The natural pattern is *from 10 downward* or, more commonly in everyday speech, *10 and under*. Also, *downward* must follow the phrase; do not put it before the number (*downward from 10* sounds different and is less common).
Meaning
from a point and all lower levels
Collocations
from teenagers downward
|from the CEO downward
|from age 10 downward
|from the top downward
Synonyms
and under (Common in age ranges in everyday English; usually used with numbers, not ranks.)
Antonyms
upward (In this pattern, *from X upward* means from that point to all higher levels.)
|
and over (Used for age or numbers to include all higher values instead of lower ones.)
Themes
education
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
From a given age, level, or rank down to all lower ones.
Used after a starting point, especially of age, rank, or level, to mean that all lower levels are included from that point to the lowest.
Grammar
Dictionary form
downward
IPA
GB/dˈaʊnwɚd/
US/dˈaʊnwɚd/
Syllables & stress
down - ward (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (down)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: downward
Word family
Expressions
downward adjustment
1/dˈaʊnwɚd əd͡ʒˈʌstmənt/
fixed phrase
change that lowers a value
A change that makes a price, value, or amount lower than it was before.
Examples
- There will be a downward adjustment in rental prices across the city.
- Investors reacted calmly to the downward adjustment in earnings estimates.
downward dog
1/dˈaʊnwɚd dˈɔɡ/
fixed phrase
informal
informal name for yoga pose
A short, informal name for the yoga pose *downward-facing dog*.
Examples
- My wrists hurt when we stay too long in downward dog.
- She can move from plank straight into downward dog smoothly.
downward pressure
1/dˈaʊnwɚd pɹˈɛʃɚ/
fixed phrase
forces pushing prices or values down
Conditions that make prices, wages, or other numbers more likely to go down.
Examples
- Automation is putting downward pressure on wages in many industries.
- Rising interest rates will put downward pressure on house prices.
downward revision
1/dˈaʊnwɚd ɹivˈɪʒən/
fixed phrase
official change to a lower figure
An official change that makes a number, such as growth or profit, lower than before.
Examples
- The government announced a downward revision of last year’s GDP figures.
- Forecasts for next quarter have undergone a slight downward revision.
downward trend
1/dˈaʊnwɚd tɹˈɛnd/
fixed phrase
a pattern of steady decrease
A general direction where numbers, prices, or amounts are going lower over time.
Examples
- Analysts are concerned about the long-term downward trend in consumer spending.
- The chart shows a clear downward trend in crime rates over the last decade.
downward-facing dog
1/dˈaʊnwɚd fˈeɪsɪŋ dˈɔɡ/
fixed phrase
a common yoga pose
A yoga position where you put your hands and feet on the floor and lift your hips to make an upside-down V shape.
Examples
- We held downward-facing dog for five deep breaths.
- The instructor showed beginners how to move safely into downward-facing dog.
on a downward spiral
1/ˈɔn ə dˈaʊnwɚd spˈaɪɹəl/
idiom
in a state of constant worsening
In a situation that keeps getting worse step by step.
Examples
- Her mental health was on a downward spiral until she got professional help.
- Many fear the local economy is on a downward spiral after the factory closures.
downward mobility
1/dˈaʊnwɚd moʊbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
movement to lower class
Moving to a lower social position or earning less money than before.
Examples
- The economic crisis led to widespread downward mobility among middle-class families.
- Fear of downward mobility keeps many people working long hours.
- Job loss often results in sudden downward mobility.
downward mobility
2/dˈaʊnwɚd moʊbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
moving to a lower social position
A change where a person or group moves to a lower social or economic level than before.
Examples
- Young adults fear downward mobility despite having university degrees.
- The recession led to widespread downward mobility in the middle class.
downward spiral
1/dˈaʊnwɚd spˈaɪɹəl/
idiom
process of steady decline
A long process where a situation becomes worse and worse step by step.
Examples
- After his injury, he entered a downward spiral of painkillers and missed practices.
- The town has been in a downward spiral since the factory closed.
- They are trying to break the downward spiral of poverty in the area.
downward spiral
2/dˈaʊnwɚd spˈaɪɹəl/
idiom
a process of getting worse and worse
A situation that keeps becoming worse, where each problem causes more and more problems.
Examples
- After he lost his job, his debts and stress created a downward spiral.
- The company entered a downward spiral of falling sales and staff cuts.