English · Travel & Places
downtown
/ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/
[/ˌdaʊnˈtaʊn/]
central business area
Intermediatenoun
Definition
The central part of a city where the main shops and businesses are located.
Example
They drove downtown to see the bright lights and tall office buildings at night.
They drove downtown to see the bright lights and tall office buildings at night.
Etymology
A 19th-century American compound of 'down' and 'town'.
How & Where It’s Used
Common in North American urban speech.
Cultural Note
'Downtown' is especially common in North American English for a city centre.