# Downs

/ˈdaʊnz/ (US) · /dˈaʊnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/downs
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to drink or eat quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to drink or eat something very fast, often in one go.

For teachers: to consume a drink or food item rapidly, often in a single continuous action.

- He downs a large glass of water every morning as soon as he wakes up.
- The athlete habitually downs a protein shake immediately following his training session to aid muscle recovery.

### 2. to bring down

verb · CEFR B2

to knock someone or something to the ground.

For teachers: to cause someone or something to fall to the ground, often through force or a shot.

- The hunter downs the deer with a single shot from his rifle.
- The defender successfully downs the striker just outside the penalty area, resulting in a crucial free kick.

### 3. rolling hills

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

areas of high, rolling land with grass and no trees, especially in southern England.

For teachers: upland areas of open, undulating chalk countryside, typically used for grazing.

- We spent the weekend hiking across the green downs of Sussex.
- The South Downs provide a dramatic landscape of rolling hills that stretch across the southern coast of England.

### 4. unhappy periods

noun · CEFR B1

the bad or unhappy times in a person's life.

For teachers: periods of misfortune, depression, or failure, usually paired with 'ups'.

- Every marriage has its ups and downs over the years.
- Despite the various ups and downs of the fiscal year, the company managed to remain profitable.

## Examples

- We went for a long walk across the grassy downs.
- The South Downs offer spectacular views of the English Channel from their high chalk cliffs.
- The unique ecosystem of the downs supports a variety of rare wildflowers and butterflies that thrive on the thin, alkaline soil of the chalk slopes.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.