The Britannica Dictionary
mobile search
Home
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
×
Britannica Homepage
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
The Britannica Dictionary
downer
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
downer
(noun)
downer
/
ˈ
daʊnɚ/
noun
plural
downers
downer
/
ˈ
daʊnɚ/
noun
plural
downers
Britannica Dictionary definition of DOWNER
[
count
]
informal
1
:
a drug that makes the body relax
especially
:
barbiturate
I took some
downers
to help me sleep.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
—
compare
upper
2
:
something that is unpleasant or depressing
“His cat just died.” “Oh, that's a real
downer
.”
Our conversation about death was a bit of a
downer
.
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
ASK THE EDITOR
What are the plural forms of
check-in
,
passerby
, and
spoonful
?
See the answer »
QUIZZES
Vocabulary Quiz
Test your word power
Take the Quiz »
Name That Thing
Take our visual quiz
Test Your Knowledge »
WORD OF THE DAY
replenish
:
to fill or build up (something) again (
somewhat formal
)
Learn More »