downwards

downwards — adverb

1. moving or pointing toward a place that is lower or closer to the ground.

1.adverbA2
Definition

moving or pointing toward a place that is lower or closer to the ground.

Example

Theo carefully climbed downwards from the roof, holding the ladder with both hands.

climb + downwards (directional movement)

Ari pointed downwards at the trail of ants on the pavement.

point + downwards (direction of gesture)

Common collocations
  • climb downwards
  • look downwards
  • point downwards
  • glance downwards
  • fall downwards
  • move downwards
Synonyms
  • downward

    identical in meaning; 'downward' is preferred in American English and also functions as an adjective

  • down

    more common in everyday spoken English; slightly less formal than 'downwards'

Antonyms
  • upwards

    the opposite direction: towards a higher position

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs of motion such as climb, move, fall, float, and with verbs of direction such as point, look, and glance. In American English the shorter form 'downward' is more common; both are grammatically correct in all varieties.

Common Mistakes

The downwards trend continued for months.
The downward trend continued for months.
'Downwards' is an adverb; use 'downward' (without -s) as an adjective before a noun.

2. toward a lower amount, price, level of quality, or worse condition — used for nu

2.adverbB1
Definition

toward a lower amount, price, level of quality, or worse condition — used for numbers, rates, standards, or settings that are decreasing.

Example

The price of oil moved sharply downwards after the government announced the new policy.

move + downwards (figurative: prices and rates)

Mei turned the volume downwards so her baby brother could sleep.

turn + downwards (adjusting a setting)

Common collocations
  • revise downwards
  • adjust downwards
  • move downwards
  • slip downwards
  • slide downwards
  • turn downwards
Synonyms
  • downward

    same figurative meaning; more common in American English

  • lower

    used as an adjective or verb ('to lower'), not an exact synonym but expresses the same direction of change

Antonyms
  • upwards

    toward a higher amount, level, or price

Usage Note

Common with verbs describing reduction or decline: move, slide, slip, revise, adjust, turn. The subject is typically an amount, price, rate, level, setting, or expectation. 'Downwards' cannot be used as an adjective — use 'downward' for that role.

Common Mistakes

The company reported a downwards profit.
The company reported a downward profit trend.
Use 'downward' (without -s) as an adjective.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three words can express movement to a lower position, but they differ in grammar and regional preference. 'Downwards' (with -s) is the standard adverb in British English and sounds slightly more formal or literary: 'The bird swooped downwards to catch its prey.' 'Downward' (without -s) serves double duty — it is the preferred adverb in American English ('The stock price moved downward') and the only correct adjective form ('a downward slope'). 'Down' is the simplest and most versatile option: it works as an adverb ('Sit down'), preposition ('The ball rolled down the hill'), adjective ('the down escalator'), noun ('the ups and downs of life'), and verb ('to down a drink'). In casual conversation, 'down' is far more common than either 'downwards' or 'downward'. For formal or written British English, choose 'downwards' for adverbial use and 'downward' only as an adjective.

downwards ↗downward ↗down ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • move downwards
  • trend downwards
  • direction downwards

Adverbs

  • steadily downwards
  • gradually downwards
  • sharply downwards
  • gently downwards

Phrases

  • head downwards
  • face downwards

Prepositions

  • downwards from
  • downwards towards
  • downwards through

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Downwards' comes from Old English 'adūnweard', formed from 'of dūne' (meaning 'off the hill' or 'down') plus the suffix '-weard' (meaning 'toward'). Over time, the final '-s' was added by analogy with other directional adverbs like 'towards' and 'afterwards'. The shorter form 'downward' lost the '-s' in American English during the 19th century, while British English retained both forms with different functions.