downtown
Downtown (noun) means a city's central business and shopping district. Example: “We grabbed lunch downtown near the courthouse.”
How to use downtown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe busy central part of a city, usually full of shops, offices, and businesses.
Mainly an American and Canadian term; British English tends to say "the city centre" or "town centre" instead.
Word forms
further downtown comparative, farther downtown comparative, more downtown comparative, further downtown comparative, farther downtown comparative, more downtown comparative, downtowns plural, furthest downtown superlative, farthest downtown superlative, most downtown superlative, furthest downtown superlative, farthest downtown superlative, most downtown superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We grabbed lunch _____ near the courthouse.
Etymology
From down + town, originally describing the lower, older part of a city (as in Manhattan).
Synonyms
View more →Frequently asked questions
What does “downtown” mean?
The word “downtown” means a city's central business and shopping district. In plain terms, the busy central part of a city, usually full of shops, offices, and businesses.
How do you pronounce “downtown”?
“Downtown” is pronounced DOWN-town (/ˈdaʊ̯nˌtaʊ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “downtown” in a sentence?
Here is “downtown” used in a sentence: “We grabbed lunch downtown near the courthouse.”
What part of speech is “downtown”?
Depending on how it is used, “downtown” can be a noun, an adjective and an adverb.
Is “downtown” a common word?
“Downtown” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “downtown” have?
“Downtown” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a city's central business and shopping district.
What is the difference between downtown and uptown?
Downtown usually refers to a city's central business and shopping district, its commercial heart. Uptown often means the residential areas away from that centre, though the exact sense varies by city. In some places the terms simply mark opposite ends of town rather than strictly business versus residential zones.
What is the difference between downtown and the city centre?
They mean much the same thing: the central business and shopping district. 'Downtown' is the common term in American English, while 'city centre' or 'town centre' is preferred in British English. Both point to the busy commercial core where offices, shops, and main services are concentrated.
What do you find downtown?
Downtown is where a city concentrates its business and commerce — office towers, banks, shops, department stores, restaurants, hotels, theatres, and public transport hubs. As the central district, it tends to be the busiest, most built-up part of the city, drawing workers, shoppers, and visitors throughout the day.
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