Word
Definitions
01the city center
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun American English
n. the main business and shopping area of a city.
n. the central business district or commercial heart of a town or city.
日本語:繁華街※
“We spent the whole afternoon walking around downtown looking for a gift.”
“The city council has invested heavily in revitalising downtown, hoping to attract more residents to the historic commercial core.”
Usage
In American English, 'downtown' is often used without an article when following a preposition like 'in'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02towards the center
A2 · Elementary American English
adv. towards or in the central part of a city.
adv. to, towards, or in the central business district of a city.
“I need to go downtown to meet my lawyer at three o'clock.”
“Commuters heading downtown faced significant delays this morning due to a water main break on the primary arterial road.”
Usage
Functions as an adverb of place or direction; typically follows the verb directly.
Pitfall
I am going to downtown.
I am going downtown.
When used as an adverb of direction with verbs like 'go' or 'drive', do not use the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03located in the center
B1 · Intermediate American English
adj. located in or relating to the central part of a city.
adj. situated in or characteristic of the central business district.
“They live in a small downtown apartment near the train station.”
“The downtown skyline has changed dramatically over the last decade with the addition of several glass-fronted skyscrapers.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
04basketball shot
C1 · Advanced Sports American English · Informal · Slang
adv. a shot taken from a long distance away from the basket.
adv. a shot taken from beyond the three-point line or from a significant distance.
“He took a shot from downtown and won the game at the buzzer.”
“The point guard is known for his ability to pull up from downtown, forcing defenders to guard him well beyond the perimeter.”
Teaching tip
This is a very specific sports metaphor used primarily in basketball broadcasting and journalism.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “downtown” in context.
Verb
01. commute to downtown
“Thousands of office workers commute to downtown every morning by train.”
verb + prep + noun
02. head downtown
“We should head downtown early if we want to find a good parking spot before the concert.”
verb + adv
03. revitalize the downtown
“The city council has launched a new project to revitalize the downtown and attract more tourists.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. bustling downtown
“The bustling downtown is filled with street performers and shoppers on Saturday afternoons.”
adj + noun
05. deserted downtown
“The once deserted downtown has become a vibrant hub for nightlife and dining.”
adj + noun
06. historic downtown
“You can see many beautiful 19th-century buildings in the historic downtown.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. downtown area
“Most of the luxury hotels are located within the downtown area.”
noun + noun
08. downtown skyline
“The downtown skyline looks spectacular when all the skyscrapers are lit up at night.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. in downtown
“There are several new art galleries opening in downtown this month.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The computer-generated video shows an army of Canada Geese with a city in the background that has a big downtown and a domed stadium.” “Fire crews were called to a three-alarm blaze at the Zanzibar Tavern in downtown Toronto on Sunday, Aug.” Etymology
From down + town.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. go downtown
- 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
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/downtown
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0