What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
downward
Example
The airplane began its downward descent towards the runway. [downward: adjective]
Example
The stock market has been on a downward trend for the past few weeks. [downward: adverb]
descending
Example
The hikers were descending the mountain trail carefully. [descending: verb]
Example
The list was arranged in descending order of importance. [descending: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Downward is more commonly used than descending in everyday language. Downward is a more versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while descending is more specific and often used in technical or formal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between downward and descending?
Descending is often associated with a more formal or technical tone, while downward is more commonly used in informal or everyday language.
