downstream
adj. · adv. · v.-
1 river direction (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediatelocated or moving in the direction that a river or stream flows.
situated or moving in the direction of the current of a stream or river.
ExampleThe downstream bridge was damaged during the heavy spring floods.
ExampleThe downstream communities reported significantly higher levels of silt after the construction of the new dam began.
Usageusually placed before the noun
- downriver
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2 moving with the current (adv.) B2 Upper Intermediatemoving towards the mouth of a river, following the water.
in the direction of a stream's current.
ExampleWe floated downstream for three hours until we reached the lake.
ExampleThe pollutants were carried downstream, affecting the delicate ecosystem of the estuary miles away from the factory.
Usagetypically follows the verb
- downriver
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3 later in a process (adj.) C1 Advanced Academichappening later in a process or as a result of something else.
occurring at a later stage in a sequence of events or as a consequence of a prior action.
ExampleThe factory closure had many downstream effects on local shops.
ExampleThe policy change created several downstream complications that the committee had failed to anticipate during the initial planning phase.
Usagefrequently used in business and science to describe results
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4 software updates (v.) C2 Proficiency Technical Computingto send a software update or fix to the people who use the program.
to provide a version or patch to subsequent developers or end-users in a software distribution chain.
ExampleThe developers will downstream the security patch to all users tomorrow.
ExampleOnce the core vulnerabilities were addressed, the team worked to downstream the fixes to the various regional branches of the project.
Usagetransitive verb requiring a direct object
From down- + stream.