Down: meaning, definitions and examples

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down

[daʊn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

movement

toward or in a lower place or position, especially to or on the ground or another surface

Synonyms

below, beneath, under.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
down	Used to indicate a lower position or movement towards a lower place. It's common in everyday conversation. She looked down at her feet. The ball rolled down the hill.
below	Used to indicate a lower level or position, usually in relation to a fixed reference point. It is often used in formal writing. The temperature dropped below freezing. Check the footnotes below the text.
under	Used to indicate something being directly or closely below another object or level, often implying physical contact or support. Suitable for casual and formal contexts. The keys are under the mat. He is under a lot of pressure at work.
beneath	Used to indicate something being directly under another object or level, often implying a sense of covering or shelter. It can also suggest hierarchy or importance. The cat hid beneath the table. She felt that the job was beneath her dignity.

Examples of usage

She bent down to tie her shoelaces.
The ball rolled down the hill.
He sat down on the chair.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

feeling

feeling unhappy or depressed

Synonyms

depressed, low, sad.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
down	Used when someone is feeling slightly unhappy or disappointed, often temporarily. I'm feeling a bit down today because it’s raining. She was down after she missed the bus to work.
sad	Used in general terms for feeling unhappy, disappointed, or upset. It is a broad term and can apply to various situations. She felt sad when she heard the bad news. It's sad to see him leave the company.
depressed	Used to describe a more severe and long-lasting feeling of sadness, often requiring medical attention. It is a more clinical term. He has been depressed ever since he lost his job. She's been diagnosed with depression and is receiving treatment.
low	Used when someone is feeling less energetic or less happy than usual. It can be temporary and is not as severe as depressed. I'm feeling pretty low after that argument with my friend. He's been a bit low since he moved to a new city.

Examples of usage

I've been feeling a bit down lately.
She has a down expression on her face.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

computing

a sequence of characters in a computer file marking the end of a line of text

Synonyms

line break, line ending.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
down	Refers to something in a lower position or related to a depressive or sad mood. Also used to describe a scheduled future time or event. The ball rolled down the hill He's feeling a bit down today The meeting is scheduled for three days down the line
line break	Used in writing and typing to indicate the end of one line and the beginning of another, allowing for proper formatting of text. Press Enter to insert a line break The poem has a line break after each verse
line ending	A technical term often used in computing or coding to specify how the end of a line is encoded in text files. Different systems use different characters or sequences, such as newline (\n) or carriage return (\r). The script failed because it expected UNIX-style line endings Make sure to convert the line endings before uploading the file

Word

Description / Examples

down

Refers to something in a lower position or related to a depressive or sad mood. Also used to describe a scheduled future time or event.

The ball rolled down the hill
He's feeling a bit down today
The meeting is scheduled for three days down the line

line break

Used in writing and typing to indicate the end of one line and the beginning of another, allowing for proper formatting of text.

Press Enter to insert a line break
The poem has a line break after each verse

line ending

A technical term often used in computing or coding to specify how the end of a line is encoded in text files. Different systems use different characters or sequences, such as newline (\n) or carriage return (\r).

The script failed because it expected UNIX-style line endings
Make sure to convert the line endings before uploading the file

Examples of usage

The program crashed because of a missing carriage return at the end of a line.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'down' comes from Old English 'dūn', which meant hill or mound, showing its link to something lower.
In various languages, the term shares a similar meaning, emphasizing the concept of low or downward motion.

Psychology

Feeling down can indicate sadness or depression, and it's essential to talk about these feelings for support.
The concept of 'being down in the dumps' comes from an old saying, illustrating how we can express our emotional state.

Physics

In physics, 'down' is often associated with gravity, the force that pulls objects toward the Earth.
The direction of down can change based on your position in space, such as when astronauts float in zero gravity.

Art & Literature

Artists often use downward movement in their paintings to create a sense of tranquility or heaviness.
In poetry, the idea of descending can symbolize loss or melancholy, adding depth to the emotional landscape.

Pop Culture

Songs frequently explore themes of feeling down, resonating with listeners who relate to sadness.
The phrase 'down to earth' is popular in media, often describing someone practical and relatable.

Translations

Translations of the word "down" in other languages:

🇵🇹 baixo

🇮🇳 नीचे

🇩🇪 unten

🇮🇩 bawah

🇺🇦 вниз

🇵🇱 w dół

🇯🇵 下

🇫🇷 bas

🇪🇸 abajo

🇹🇷 aşağı

🇰🇷 아래

🇸🇦 أسفل

🇨🇿 dolů

🇸🇰 dole

🇨🇳 下

🇸🇮 dol

🇮🇸 niður

🇰🇿 төмен

🇬🇪 ქვემოთ

🇦🇿 aşağı

🇲🇽 abajo

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #110, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

...
107 given
108 know
109 just
110 down
111 present
112 back
113 place
...