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downturned

A1
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Pronunciation

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      Meanings

      Adjective

      1. turned, bent, or pointing downward

      2. declining or depressed, especially economically

      Beyond the definition

      Imagine the corners of someone's mouth: if they turn down instead of up, they often suggest sadness, disappointment, or a serious mood. That is a downturned expression. But the word is not just about faces. It can describe eyes, lips, a nose, petals, or other parts that slope or point downward. A flower with downturned petals or a statue with a slightly downturned nose both give the sense of something gently facing down.

      Examples

      1. 1

        Facial expression

        She has a small, downturned mouth that makes her look thoughtful in photos.

      2. 2

        Hidden sadness

        The corners of his lips stayed downturned, even after he said he was fine.

      3. 3

        Visual art

        In the painting, the child’s downturned eyes give the whole scene a quiet, sad feeling.

      See also

      Similar

      Shades of meaning

      Contrast

      Used with (collocations)

      • downturned mouth
      • downturned eyes
      • downturned corners

      Word family

      • turn down

      Explore

      Forms and spellings

      1 form open this card.

      Main spelling

      • downturned