WordGarden.iodownfield
A1Pronunciation
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Meanings
Adverb
toward or in the part of a playing field nearer the opponent's goal
Adjective
located or happening nearer the opponent's goal on a playing field
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're watching American football. When a quarterback throws a pass downfield, the ball goes farther ahead toward the other team's end zone. The word usually means moving, looking, or sending the ball toward the opponent's side, not back toward your own goal. It is about direction, and often about going farther up the field.
You will hear it most often in sports such as American football, and sometimes in other field sports. People also use it in set phrases like "move the ball downfield" to mean making progress, but that comes from the sports idea of pushing play forward.
"Downfield" is a directional word used mainly in sports, especially American football. It describes movement or position toward the opponent's end of the field and away from your own side. For example, if a receiver runs downfield, he is running farther ahead toward the other team's end zone to catch a pass. If blockers move downfield, they move ahead of the play toward the attacking end.
The idea is not just "far away." It usually means "farther ahead in the direction of attack." That is why the word fits sports where each side is trying to advance toward the other side's goal or end zone. In many cases, it can describe where a player is, where the ball goes, or where action is happening on the field.
Sometimes people use it in a figurative way, especially in expressions like "move the ball downfield." In that kind of sentence, it means making forward progress toward a goal. Still, the main meaning is the sports meaning, so learners should first connect it with advancing play toward the opponent's side.
Examples
- 1
Long pass
The quarterback stepped up and threw downfield to his fastest receiver.
- 2
Blocking support
Once she caught the screen pass, her teammates ran ahead to block downfield.
- Phraseblock downfield
move farther up the field to block for the runner
- 3
Passing strategy
The coach wants more downfield passing instead of so many short, safe throws.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- downfieldadjectiveadverb