downward

[ doun-werd ]

adverb

1. Also downwards. from a higher to a lower place or condition.
2. down from a source or beginning:

   As the river flows downward, it widens.

3. from a past time, predecessor, or ancestor:

   The estate was handed downward from generation to generation.

adjective

1. moving or tending to a lower place or condition.
2. descending from a source or beginning.

downward

/ ˈdaʊnwəd /

adjective

1. descending from a higher to a lower level, condition, position, etc
2. descending from a beginning

adverb

1. a variant of downwards

Derived Forms

• ˈdownwardly, adverb
• ˈdownwardness, noun

Other Words From

• downward·ly adverb
• downward·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of downward¹

1150–1200; Middle English dounward, aphetic variant of adounward, Old English adūnweard. See down ¹, -ward

Related Words

• descending
• downwards