ENGLISH
REFERENCE

countdown

n.
US //ˈkaʊntˌdaʊn// UK //kˈaʊntdaʊn// count·down
  1. 1 counting to zero (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    counting backwards to zero to mark the start of an event.

    the act of counting units of time in reverse order to signal the commencement of an event, such as a rocket launch or race.

    Example

    The crowd joined in the final countdown as the clock reached ten seconds before midnight.

    Example

    The mission controller initiated the final countdown, monitoring the telemetry closely as the seconds ticked toward the scheduled ignition.
  2. 2 the waiting period (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the period of time or the preparations leading up to a big event.

    the period of time immediately preceding a significant event, often involving a series of scheduled preparatory tasks.

    Example

    The countdown to the election has begun, with candidates visiting every major city.

    Example

    During the tense countdown to the product launch, the marketing team worked through the night to ensure every digital asset was live and functional.
  3. 3 ranked list program (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Music

    a radio or TV show that plays the most popular songs or items in reverse order.

    a broadcast program that presents a ranked list of items, typically popular music, starting from the lowest rank and ending with number one.

    Example

    I always listen to the top forty countdown on Sunday afternoons to hear the new hits.

    Example

    The radio station's annual countdown of the greatest rock anthems of all time consistently attracts the highest listener engagement of the year.
Origin

From count + down.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026