Prefix · position / reduction
Signals downward movement or reduction: download, downgrade, downstairs, downside.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Down- is the opposite of up-. It shows physical movement downward, or a reduction in quality, quantity or state. If you see down- at the start of a word, think of something going down, being reduced or ending at a lower level.
This prefix shows up all the time, and many times you do not even notice it is a prefix. If you understand down as "lower" or "reduce", you can almost always guess the word. Unlike many prefixes, down- is also a plain English word, which is why most of its compounds are written as one word.
Attaches to verbs, nouns, and adjectives to signal downward direction or reduction:
No spelling change to the root. Pronunciation: /daʊn/, rhymes with "town".
down-/daʊn/
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"Downgrade the software" = install an older, lower version. "Downsize the company" = reduce the number of employees or the scale of operations. They are related but not interchangeable.
"His arrogance was his downfall" = his arrogance caused his ruin. The figurative use is far more common than any literal sense of falling downward.
A trick to remember it
Literal, the same "down" you already know: download, downgrade.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "downgrade" and "downsize"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"Every solution has a ___ and it's important to consider both sides before deciding."
The prefix down- signals downward movement or reduction: download, downgrade, downstairs, downside.
The prefix down- is pronounced /daʊn/. For example, "download".
"load" becomes "download". It is a typical example of the down- prefix.
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