downtown

1 of 2

adjective

down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n How to pronounce downtown (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or located in the lower part or business center of a city or town
2
: hip, trendy
downtown music
downtown adverb

downtown

2 of 2

noun

: the lower part of a city or town
also : the main business district or central part of a city or town
downtowner noun

Examples of downtown in a Sentence

Adjective the downtown clientele of this bistro come to be seen, and the food is only an afterthought
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Brian Hopkins, 2nd, whose ward includes Streeterville, responded by calling (not for the first time) for moving the existing 10 p.m. curfew for minors who are downtown without an accompanying adult back to 8 p.m. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025 This spurred collectors to acquire some organs from movie theaters that were being closed or sold as people shifted from watching movies downtown to watching TV at home in the suburbs. Heather Kathryn Ross, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Then Jurado thumped incumbent Kevin de León to win a downtown and Eastside seat and become the first Filipino American on the City Council. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025 LaFrance said the initiative aimed to spotlight downtown and Old Sacramento businesses in a way that felt creative and engaging for the community. Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for downtown

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of downtown was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Downtown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downtown. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

downtown

1 of 2 adverb
down·​town ˌdau̇n-ˈtau̇n How to pronounce downtown (audio)
: to, toward, or in the main business district

downtown

2 of 2 adjective
-ˌtau̇n
: situated downtown

More from Merriam-Webster on downtown

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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