noun
downer
DOW-nuh
Downer (noun) means something that makes people feel disappointed or depressed (informal). Example: “Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real downer.”
noun
1
Something that makes people feel disappointed or depressed (informal).
"Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real downer."
2
A sedative or depressant drug (slang).
"Eye Girl is very moody. She is always zooted up on some really foul combination of uppers and downers and Rollerblading. Her bouts of Rollerblading seem to coincide with fights with Eye Guy."
— Maggie Estep, Diary of an Emotional Idiot: A Novel (1997)
"He mixed alcohol with downers, which is extremely dangerous."
How to use downer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething disappointing or depressing, or slang for a sedative drug.
When to use it
Informal — common in casual speech, not formal writing.
Common pairings
what a downer
a real downer
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Word forms
- Plural
- downers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real _____.
Etymology
Perhaps connected to tanner (“sixpence”).
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for downer
See all rhymes for downer →Frequently asked questions
What does “downer” mean?
The word “downer” means something that makes people feel disappointed or depressed (informal). In plain terms, something disappointing or depressing, or slang for a sedative drug.
How do you pronounce “downer”?
“Downer” is pronounced DOW-nuh (/ˈdaʊnɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “downer” in a sentence?
Here is “downer” used in a sentence: “Finding out the concert was cancelled was a real downer.”
What is another word for “downer”?
Words with a similar meaning to “downer” include killjoy and spoilsport.
What part of speech is “downer”?
“Downer” is a noun.
How many meanings does “downer” have?
“Downer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that makes people feel disappointed or depressed (informal).
