WordGarden.iodownwards
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈaʊnwədz/
US
- /ˈdaʊnwərdz/
Meanings
Adverb
toward a lower place or position
toward a lower amount, level, rank, or condition
Beyond the definition
Imagine a gentle waterfall moving downwards - that is the core idea. "Downwards" describes movement or direction from a higher point to a lower one. It can talk about real movement, like a leaf floating downwards, or about change, like prices moving downwards on a chart. It often appears when the focus is on the direction of movement or on a gradual decrease. You might say, "She looked downwards," or "The numbers kept moving downwards through the week."
"Downwards" is an adverb that indicates movement, direction, or trend toward a lower position, level, or value. It describes something progressing from higher to lower—whether physically, figuratively, or statistically.
Think of a skier gliding downwards toward the base of a mountain, or an autumn leaf drifting downwards from a tree. But it's not limited to physical motion. A graph showing declining sales would have a line trending downwards. A politician's approval rating might move downwards after a scandal.
"Downwards" often suggests a gradual process rather than an immediate change. It implies a consistent direction of decline or descent. You'll frequently encounter it in contexts involving trends, statistics, and descriptions of movement. For example: "The stock market took a turn downwards this morning," or "She cast her eyes downwards, avoiding his gaze."
Unlike simply saying "down," downwards emphasizes the direction of that descent. It is about moving lower, not just being lower. So when you want to highlight a decreasing trend or movement toward a lower level, "downwards" can make that direction clearer.
Examples
- 1
Physical movement
The ball rolled downwards and disappeared into the grass.
- 2
Camera angle
She tilted the camera slightly downwards to include the table.
- 3
Eye movement
His eyes dropped downwards when his name was called.
- 4
Business trend
Sales have been moving downwards since the summer.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Number order
Start at question 10 and work downwards.
- Phrasework downwards
continue from higher numbers or positions to lower ones
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- downwardsadverb