Standard Lemma guide

downstream

adj · adv · verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˌdaʊnˈstɹiːm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːm
  • CMU ARPABET: D AW1 N S T R IY1 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Toward the lower part of a stream; with the current (of a river, brook, or other flow of fluid).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Occurring later than something else; (also, usually, especially) influenced by something else; being a consequence of something else.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • Input validation is downstream of input entry in the runtime process.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Occurring later than something else; (also, usually, especially) influenced by something else; being a consequence of something else.

In the direction from the server to the client.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Topics: computer, computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, networking, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Occurring later than something else; (also, usually, especially) influenced by something else; being a consequence of something else.

Towards the 3′ end of a DNA molecule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

Following the path of a river or stream.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • We spent the day paddling downstream in our canoes.
  • She lives downstream from the dam.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To stream downward.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

Of the original developers: to make available (a version or patch) to downstream developers and users of the software.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Qualifier: open-source software

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adjective

Meaning 8

in the direction of a stream's current

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: upstream

9

adverb

Meaning 9

away from the source or with the current

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: downriver

Antonyms: upstream

History

Etymology

From down- + stream.

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Central Bikol: ilawod — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Bulgarian: по течението (po tečenieto) — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Czech: (dále) po proudu — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Finnish: alapuolella — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • French: aval — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • French: descendant — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • German: stromabwärts — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Italian: a valle — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Japanese: 下流 (karyǔ) — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Malay: hilir — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Māori: raro iho — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Polish: z prądem — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Portuguese: jusante — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Spanish: río abajo — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • Swedish: nedströms — lower down, in relation to a river or stream
  • French: en aval — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Hungarian: a géntől 3’ irányban — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Hungarian: 3' vége felé — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Hungarian: 3' irányban — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Italian: a valle — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Portuguese: a jusante — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Spanish: corriente abajo — biology: towards the 3' end of a DNA molecule
  • Arabic: مع التيار — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Central Bikol: ilawod — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Czech: po proudu — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Dutch: stroomafwaarts — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Finnish: alavirtaan — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Finnish: myötävirtaan — Following the path of a river or stream
  • German: flussabwärts — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Latin: secundō flūmine — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Navajo: tooh góyaa — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Persian: پایین رود — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Polish: z prądem — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Portuguese: jusante — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Romanian: în aval — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Romanian: la vale — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Romanian: în josul apei — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Scottish Gaelic: leis an t-sruth — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Spanish: río abajo — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Swedish: nedströms — Following the path of a river or stream
  • Tagalog: ilawod — Following the path of a river or stream
Real reading context

downstream in complete knowledge articles

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