Downturn Meaning
/ˈdaʊntɜːn/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA downward trend, or the beginnings of one.
verbTo turn downwards.
Sentence Examples
The best companies are usually investing during an economic downturn.
What's responsible for Algeria's economic downturn?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The economic ____ resulted in many businesses closing their doors permanently.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The best companies are usually investing during an economic ____.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English down- Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-nos Proto-Indo-European *tórh₁nos Proto-Hellenic *tórnos Ancient Greek τόρνος (tórnos)bor. Latin tornus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin tornōbor. Proto-West Germanic *turnēn Old English turnian ▲ Latin tornō Old French tornerbor. Middle English turnen English turn English downturn From down- + turn.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Any [economic] downturn will eventually impact on rail freight, and indeed passenger traffic, so operators are watching this closely."
— 2019 October, Rail Freight Group, “Consequences of a no deal Brexit”, in Modern Railways, page 20:
"In the 1950s, the downturn in BR's financial performance can be illustrated by its declining market share. Between 1951 and 1961, the railways' market share of passenger business fell from 21% to 14%, and for freight from 45% to 29%."
— 2023 March 8, David Clough, “The long road that led to Beeching”, in RAIL, number 978, page 39:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The economic ____ resulted in many businesses closing their doors permanently.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The best companies are usually investing during an economic ____.