from higher to lower; in descending direction or order; toward, into, or in a lower position

to come down the ladder.

on or to the ground, floor, or bottom

He fell down.

to or in a sitting or lying position.

to or in a position, area, or district considered lower, esp. from a geographical or cartographic standpoint, as to the south, a business district, etc.

We drove from San Francisco down to Los Angeles.

to or at a lower value or rate.

to a lesser pitch or volume

Turn down the radio.

in or to a calmer, less active, or less prominent state

The wind died down.

from an earlier to a later time

from the 17th century down to the present.

from a greater to a lesser strength, amount, etc.

to water down liquor.

in an attitude of earnest application

to get down to work.

on paper or in a book

Write down the address.

in cash at the time of purchase; at once

We paid

to the point of defeat, submission, inactivity, etc.

They shouted down the opposition.

in or into a fixed or supine position

They tied down the struggling animal.

to the source or actual position

The dogs tracked down the bear.

into a condition of ill health

He's come down with a cold.

in or into a lower status or condition

kept down by lack of education.

Nautical . toward the lee side, so as to turn a vessel to windward

Put the helm down!

Slang . on toast (as used in ordering a sandwich at a lunch counter or restaurant)

Give me a tuna down.

in a descending or more remote direction or place on, over, or along

They ran off down the street.

downward; going or directed downward

the down escalator.

being at a low position or on the ground, floor, or bottom.

toward the south, a business district, etc.

associated with or serving traffic, transportation, or the like, directed toward the south, a business district, etc.

the down platform.

downcast; depressed; dejected

You seem very down today.

ailing, esp., sick and bedridden

He's been down with a bad cold.

being the portion of the full price, as of an article bought on the installment plan, that is paid at the time of purchase or delivery

a payment of

Football . (of the ball) not in play.

behind an opponent or opponents in points, games, etc.

The team won the pennant despite having been down three games in the final week of play.

Baseball . out.

losing or having lost the amount indicated, esp. at gambling

After an hour at poker, he was down

having placed one's bet

Are you down for the fourth race?

finished, done, considered, or taken care of

five down and one to go.

out of order

The computer has been down all day.

a downward movement; descent.

a turn for the worse; reverse

The business cycle experienced a sudden down.

Football .

one of a series of four plays during which a team must advance the ball at least 10 yd. (9 m) to keep possession of it.

the declaring of the ball as down or out of play, or the play immediately preceding this.

Slang . an order of toast at a lunch counter or restaurant.

Slang . downer ( defs. 1a, b ) .

to put, knock, or throw down; subdue

He downed his opponent in the third round.

to drink down, esp. quickly or in one gulp

to down a tankard of ale.

Informal . to defeat in a game or contest

The Mets downed the Dodgers in today's game.

to cause to fall from a height, esp. by shooting

Antiaircraft guns downed ten bombers.

to go down; fall.

(used as a command to a dog to stop attacking, to stop jumping on someone, to get off a couch or chair, etc.)

Down, Rover!

(used as a command or warning to duck, take cover, or the like)

Down! They're starting to shoot!

down and out

down-and-out.

down cold or pat

mastered or learned perfectly

Another hour of studying and I'll have the math lesson down cold.

down in the mouth

discouraged; depressed; sad.

down on

Informal . hostile or averse to

Why are you so down on sports?

down with!

away with! cease!

Down with tyranny!

on or toward the ground or into a lower position

Down with your rifles!

adjective

above , higher , cheerful , cheery , happy , heartened

adjective

bottomward , cascading , declining , depressed , descending , downgrade , downhill , downward , dropping , earthward , falling , gravitating , groundward , inferior , nether , precipitating , sagging , sinking , sliding , slipping , slumping , subjacent , to the bottom , under , underneath , bad , blue * , cast down , chapfallen , crestfallen , dejected , disheartened , dispirited , downcast , downhearted , low , miserable , off , sad , slack , sluggish , dull , soft , ill , unwell , blue , desolate , dysphoric , gloomy , heavy-hearted , melancholic , melancholy , spiritless , tristful , unhappy , wistful , ailing , beat , below , defeat , destroy , downy , drink , eat , fell , floccose , flocculent , floor , fuzz , lanuginous , level , overthrow , plumage , puberulent , pubescent , sloping , suppress , woolly

noun

comedown , downfall , downgrade

verb

bring down , cut down , fell , flatten , floor , ground , knock down , level , prostrate , strike down , throw , bolt , englut , engorge , gobble , guzzle , ingurgitate , swill , wolf