downward

[ doun-werd ]
/ ˈdaʊn wərd /

adverb

Also down·wards. from a higher to a lower place or condition.
down from a source or beginning: As the river flows downward, it widens.
from a past time, predecessor, or ancestor: The estate was handed downward from generation to generation.

adjective

moving or tending to a lower place or condition.
descending from a source or beginning.

Origin of downward

1150–1200; Middle English dounward, aphetic variant of adounward, Old English adūnweard. See down1, -ward

OTHER WORDS FROM downward

down·ward·ly, adverb down·ward·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for downwards

British Dictionary definitions for downwards (1 of 2)

downwards

downward

/ (ˈdaʊnwədz) /

adverb

from a higher to a lower place, level, etc
from an earlier time or source to a later from the Tudors downwards

British Dictionary definitions for downwards (2 of 2)

downward
/ (ˈdaʊnwəd) /

adjective

descending from a higher to a lower level, condition, position, etc
descending from a beginning

adverb

a variant of downwards

Derived forms of downward

downwardly, adverb downwardness, noun