noun
Uncommon
downturn
DOWN-turn
Downturn (noun) means a decline in economic activity, business, or some other measurable trend. Example: “The company laid off staff during the economic downturn.”
noun
1
A decline in economic activity, business, or some other measurable trend.
"The company laid off staff during the economic downturn."
"Sales showed a sharp downturn after the holidays."
How to use downturn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThings getting worse, usually said about the economy, sales, or business.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
economic downturn
sharp downturn
downturn in sales
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Word forms
- Plural
- downturns
- Third person singular
- downturns
- Past tense
- downturned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company laid off staff during the economic _____.
Etymology
From down + turn — a "turning downward" of a trend.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “downturn” mean?
The word “downturn” means a decline in economic activity, business, or some other measurable trend. In plain terms, things getting worse, usually said about the economy, sales, or business.
How do you pronounce “downturn”?
“Downturn” is pronounced DOWN-turn (/ˈdaʊntɝn/ in IPA).
How do you use “downturn” in a sentence?
Here is “downturn” used in a sentence: “The company laid off staff during the economic downturn.”
What part of speech is “downturn”?
“Downturn” is a noun.
Is “downturn” a common word?
“Downturn” is an uncommon word in modern English.
