downstream
adverb or adjective
down·stream
ˈdau̇n-ˈstrēm 
1
: in the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream
floating downstream
located two miles downstream
2
: in or toward the latter stages of a usually industrial process or the stages (such as marketing) after manufacture
improving profits downstream
downstream products
3
biochemistry
: toward the end of a series of cellular processes : following a linked molecular event occurring in a sequence
But by looking downstream of the tumor suppressors [genes] at the proteins they influence, drug developers hope to find good targets.—
Marcia Barinaga
Marcia BarinagaExamples of downstream in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While searching the banks of the irrigation canal, rescuers found a body several miles downstream at about 5 p.m. Sunday, May 19, authorities said.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 20 May 2024
Generally, position yourself downstream and cast up and across.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 16 May 2024
Anyone is welcome to help pick up plastic and other harmful items before they get washed downstream to the San Pedro Bay.
—Laura Randall, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
The boats eventually were pinned to the riverbank or went over a dam downstream.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 May 2024
Among the worst floods was the deluge of 1908 that swept outhouses, sheds, livestock and railroad trestles downstream.
—Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2024
The debris had been washed downstream, taking everything with it.
—Emmanuel Igunza, NPR, 10 May 2024
The boy was also presumed to have fallen into the rapid water and taken downstream.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 8 May 2024
Their clichés about upstream septic-tank pollution flowing downstream feel trite.
—Armond White, National Review, 8 May 2024
Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 20 May 2024
Generally, position yourself downstream and cast up and across.
—Joe Cermele, Field & Stream, 16 May 2024
Anyone is welcome to help pick up plastic and other harmful items before they get washed downstream to the San Pedro Bay.
—Laura Randall, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
The boats eventually were pinned to the riverbank or went over a dam downstream.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 15 May 2024
Among the worst floods was the deluge of 1908 that swept outhouses, sheds, livestock and railroad trestles downstream.
—Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 May 2024
The debris had been washed downstream, taking everything with it.
—Emmanuel Igunza, NPR, 10 May 2024
The boy was also presumed to have fallen into the rapid water and taken downstream.
—Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 8 May 2024
Their clichés about upstream septic-tank pollution flowing downstream feel trite.
—Armond White, National Review, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'downstream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near downstream
Cite this Entry
“Downstream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downstream. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downstream
adverb or adjective
down·stream
ˈdau̇n-ˈstrēm
: in the direction a stream is flowing
Medical Definition
downstream
adverb or adjective
down·stream
ˌdau̇n-ˈstrēm
1
: in the same direction along a molecule of DNA or RNA as that in which transcription and translation take place and toward the end having a hydroxyl group attached to the position labeled 3′ in the terminal nucleotide
a nucleotide sequence located downstream from the regulatory gene
effects on the expression of downstream genes
compare upstream sense 1
2
: toward the end of a series of cellular processes : following a linked molecular event occurring in a sequence
But by looking downstream of the tumor suppressors [genes] at the proteins they influence, drug developers hope to find good targets.—Marcia Barinaga, Science
Marcia Barinaga, ScienceThe tyrosine kinase activity of phosphorylated EGFR [epidermal growth factor receptor] in cancer cells results in the phosphorylation of downstream proteins that incite cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and inhibition of apoptosis.—Jonathan E. Dowell and John D. Minna, The New England Journal of Medicine
Jonathan E. Dowell and John D. Minna, The New England Journal of MedicineLove words? Need even more definitions?
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