downtown
DOWN-town
Downtown (noun) means a city's central business and shopping district. Example: “The new library is in the heart of downtown, close to the station.”
noun
1
A city's central business and shopping district.
"The new library is in the heart of downtown, close to the station."
"We grabbed lunch downtown near the courthouse."
"Traffic downtown is always heavy at rush hour."
adj
1
Located in or relating to the central business district.
"They rented a downtown apartment with a view of the river."
"The downtown library stays open late on Thursdays for students and shift workers."
"Parking in the downtown area can be difficult on busy Saturdays."
adv
1
Toward or in the central business district.
"She works downtown but lives in the suburbs."
"We drove downtown to see the festival lights in the main square."
"Take the number nine bus downtown and get off at the town hall."
How to use downtown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe busy central part of a city, usually full of shops, offices, and businesses.
UK vs US
Mainly an American and Canadian term; British English tends to say "the city centre" or "town centre" instead.
Common pairings
downtown area
go downtown
downtown traffic
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Word forms
- Plural
- downtowns
- Comparative
- further downtown, farther downtown, more downtown
- Superlative
- furthest downtown, farthest downtown, most downtown
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new library is in the heart of _____, close to the station.
Etymology
From down + town, originally describing the lower, older part of a city (as in Manhattan).
Synonyms
View more →
city centre
town centre
central business district
the city
commercial district
the heart of the city
business district
Antonyms
Related words
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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