downwards
gb/dˈaʊnwɚdz/ us/dˈaʊnwɚdz/
A2
English
lefelé, legfeljebb, és annál kisebb/fiatalabb/kevesebb, -tól/-től kezdve, -tól/-től kezdődően
A2
1
lefelé
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] moves/falls/slides downwards
The elevator suddenly jerked downwards.
A lift hirtelen lefelé rándult.
Rainwater flows downwards into the drain.
Az esővíz lefelé folyik a lefolyóba.
The kite dipped downwards and then rose again.
Learner examples
The ball rolled downwards.
A labda lefelé gurult.
She walked downwards to the river.
Lefelé sétált a folyóhoz.
Common mistake:
Don’t use *downwards* as an adjective before a noun (use *downward* or *down*).
Meaning
toward a lower position
Collocations
fall downwards
|move downwards
|slide downwards
|flow downwards
|sink downwards
|drop downwards
|drift downwards
|pull downwards
|push downwards
|travel downwards
Synonyms
down (More common and shorter in everyday speech.)
|
downward (Often used in more formal or technical writing; also an adjective.)
Antonyms
upwards (Toward a higher position.)
|
up (More common everyday opposite.)
Themes
space
|movement
|daily_life
Definition
moving to a lower place
Toward a lower place, level, or position, especially by movement.
B1
2
lefelé
A2
Usage pattern:
point/tilt/angle/look downwards
Point the flashlight downwards so you don’t shine it in anyone’s eyes.
Fordítsd lefelé a zseblámpát, hogy ne világíts senkinek a szemébe.
He kept his head downwards, avoiding eye contact.
Leszegve tartotta a fejét, és kerülte a szemkontaktust.
The camera is angled slightly downwards.
Learner examples
Look downwards at your feet.
Nézz lefelé, a lábadra.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *downwards* where *down* is more natural (e.g., 'look down' is more common than 'look downwards').
Meaning
facing toward the ground
Collocations
look downwards
|stare downwards
|glance downwards
|point downwards
|tilt downwards
|angle downwards
|face downwards
|direct downwards
|bend downwards
|hang downwards
Synonyms
down (More idiomatic in many verb phrases (look down, point down).)
Antonyms
upwards (Directed toward the sky or top.)
Themes
space
|body_language
|instructions
Definition
toward the ground; not up
In the direction of the ground or the bottom, describing where something is pointed, turned, or looked.
B1
3
lefelé
B1
Usage pattern:
[level/price/temperature] moves/trends downwards
House prices have been moving downwards for months.
A lakásárak hónapok óta lefelé tartanak.
The temperature is heading downwards tonight.
Ma este lefelé tart a hőmérséklet.
They revised the forecast downwards after the new data came in.
Learner examples
The price is going downwards.
Az ár lefelé megy.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse the adverb *downwards* with the adjective *downward* (e.g., 'a downward trend').
Meaning
becoming lower or less
Collocations
trend downwards
|move downwards
|go downwards
|shift downwards
|revised downwards
|adjusted downwards
|pressure downwards
|drift downwards
|spiral downwards
|slide downwards
Synonyms
down (More common in speech (prices are down).)
|
downward (Often used in more formal reporting.)
Antonyms
upwards (Increasing; going higher.)
|
up (More common everyday opposite.)
Themes
numbers
|business
|weather
Definition
decreasing; going lower
In a way that shows a decrease in level, amount, value, or intensity.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[number/age/amount] downwards
The activity is suitable for children aged 8 downwards.
A foglalkozás legfeljebb 8 éves gyerekeknek való.
This size is available in 40 and downwards.
Ez 40-es és annál kisebb méretben kapható.
The offer applies to purchases of $100 downwards.
Learner examples
It is for ages 12 downwards.
Ez legfeljebb 12 éveseknek való.
Common mistake:
This use is common in British English; American English often prefers 'and under' or 'and below'.
Meaning
including smaller numbers or ages
Collocations
ages 12 downwards
|from 16 downwards
|sizes 8 downwards
|children 10 downwards
|prices $50 downwards
|weights 5 kg downwards
|students 18 downwards
Synonyms
and under (Very common alternative (especially AmE) with ages/limits.)
|
and below (Common in measurements and levels.)
Antonyms
upwards (That number and all higher/older ones.)
|
and over (Common opposite with ages/limits.)
Themes
numbers
|shopping
|education
Definition
and smaller/younger than that
Used after a number, age, or amount to mean “that number and all smaller or younger ones.”
C1
FORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
from [time/period] downwards
From the 1950s downwards, the area changed rapidly.
Az 1950-es évektől kezdve a terület gyorsan átalakult.
The exhibition traces design from the 1920s downwards.
A kiállítás az 1920-as évektől kezdve követi nyomon a formatervezés alakulását.
Records from 2005 downwards are stored digitally.
Common mistake:
This is much less common than 'from ... onwards' and can sound unnatural in everyday conversation.
Meaning
from a time onward
Collocations
from the 1990s downwards
|from the 18th century downwards
|from the early 2000s downwards
|from 2010 downwards
Synonyms
onwards (More common and natural in modern usage ('from 2010 onwards').)
Antonyms
backwards (In the opposite direction in time or order.)
Themes
time
|history
|writing
Definition
from that time until later
Used after a time period to mean “from then on, continuing into later times,” often when listing history from earlier to more recent periods.
Grammar
Dictionary form
downwards
IPA
GB/dˈaʊnwɚdz/
US/dˈaʊnwɚdz/
Syllables & stress
down - wards (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (down)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: downwards
- Plural: downwardses
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.