Word
downstream
Phoneticsdown·stream, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdaʊnˈstɹim/
UK/dˈaʊnstɹiːm/
Definitions
01river direction
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. located or moving in the direction that a river or stream flows.
adj. situated or moving in the direction of the current of a stream or river.
“The downstream bridge was damaged during the heavy spring floods.”
“The downstream communities reported significantly higher levels of silt after the construction of the new dam began.”
Usage
usually placed before the noun
Synonyms
Antonyms
02moving with the current
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. moving towards the mouth of a river, following the water.
adv. in the direction of a stream's current.
“We floated downstream for three hours until we reached the lake.”
“The pollutants were carried downstream, affecting the delicate ecosystem of the estuary miles away from the factory.”
Usage
typically follows the verb
Synonyms
Antonyms
03later in a process
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. happening later in a process or as a result of something else.
adj. occurring at a later stage in a sequence of events or as a consequence of a prior action.
“The factory closure had many downstream effects on local shops.”
“The policy change created several downstream complications that the committee had failed to anticipate during the initial planning phase.”
Usage
frequently used in business and science to describe results
Synonyms
Antonyms
04software updates
C2 · Proficiency Computing Technical
v. to send a software update or fix to the people who use the program.
v. to provide a version or patch to subsequent developers or end-users in a software distribution chain.
“The developers will downstream the security patch to all users tomorrow.”
“Once the core vulnerabilities were addressed, the team worked to downstream the fixes to the various regional branches of the project.”
Usage
transitive verb requiring a direct object
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Downstream of the turbines, strong variations in air movement enhance the exchange between different layers of the atmosphere.” “But they may reach levels at which no water beyond what’s required to generate power – or what arrives as rain or snow – would flow downstream.” “The region provides water that supports farming, cities, and ecosystems across more than a dozen downstream countries, making it a critical resource for hundreds of millions of people.” “Lahars usually accompany eruptions, offering some heads up to downstream residents, but landslides on the slope can create sudden, “no-notice” lahars.” Etymology
From down- + stream.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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