What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
downing
Example
He downed his beer and left the bar. [downed: past tense]
Example
She was downing shots like there was no tomorrow. [downing: present participle]
chugging
Example
The frat boys were chugging beers at the party. [chugging: verb]
Example
She chugged her water bottle after her workout. [chugged: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Chugging is more commonly used than downing in everyday language. Chugging is versatile and can be used with any type of beverage, while downing is less common and is typically associated with alcoholic beverages.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between downing and chugging?
Both downing and chugging are informal terms and are not appropriate for formal settings.
