downlink

1 of 2

noun

down·​link ˈdau̇n-ˌliŋk 

: a communications channel for receiving transmissions from a spacecraft

also : such transmissions

downlink

2 of 2

verb

downlinked; downlinking; downlinks

transitive verb

: to transmit (data) from a spacecraft or satellite to a receiver on earth

Examples of downlink in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While the downlink speeds are generally quick enough to download standard documents, media files like TV shows in excess of 1GB were much slower to funnel down from the web. —PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025

All coverage must offer at least 100 megabits per second downlink and 10 millisecond latencies—though 5G networks are expected to provide much higher downlink rates, especially in dense urban areas. —IEEE Spectrum, 6 Dec. 2018

Verb

Bypassing the need to downlink data to ground stations scattered around the world will also mitigate security concerns, such as possible interception of data by adversary actors. —Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2025

The spacecraft will align its antenna with Earth and downlink the photographs via the Deep Space Network. —Mika McKinnon, Discover Magazine, 14 Sep. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1963, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for downlink

• bethink
• groupthink
• hoodwink
• rethink
• uplink
• blink
• brink
• chink
• cinque
• clink
• dink
• drink