downturn

IPA/ˈdaʊntɜːn/
KK[dˈaʊntˌɚn]IPA/ˈdaʊntɜːrn/

downturn — noun

  • downturnsingular
  • downturnsplural

1. a period when business activity, production, or economic growth becomes weaker a

1.nounB2
Definition

a period when business activity, production, or economic growth becomes weaker and moves in a negative direction, often causing job losses and reduced spending.

Example

The global downturn in 2009 forced the Watanabe family to sell their bakery.

collocation: global downturn

A sudden downturn in tourism left hotels along the coast nearly empty.

pattern: downturn in [sector]

Common collocations
  • global downturn
  • economic downturn
  • severe downturn
  • sharp downturn
  • downturn in the economy
  • downturn in sales
  • downturn in demand
  • experience a downturn
  • cause a downturn
  • weather a downturn
Synonyms
  • recession

    more formal and technical; refers to a prolonged, officially defined period of economic contraction

  • slump

    suggests a more severe, sudden drop in activity or prices

  • slowdown

    milder than downturn; implies a reduction in pace rather than a clear decline

  • decline

    more general; can refer to a fall in any measurable quantity, not just the economy

Antonyms
  • upturn

    the direct opposite; a move toward improvement in business conditions

  • recovery

    focuses on the process of returning to a healthy state after a downturn

  • boom

    a period of very strong, rapid economic growth

Grammar Patterns

downturn in [sector/area]

economic downturn

Usage Note

Often modified by adjectives such as 'sharp,' 'severe,' or 'mild' to indicate the extent of the decline, or by 'global' / 'economic' to specify scope. A downturn is generally less severe and less technical than a recession.

Common Mistakes

The economy downturned sharply last quarter.
The economy experienced a sharp downturn last quarter.
downturn is only a noun, never a verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Downturn, recession, slump, and slowdown all describe a weakening in economic activity, but they differ in severity, formality, and duration. A downturn is a broad, neutral term for any period of decline — it can be mild or severe, short or long. A recession is a more formal, technical term, typically defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth; journalists and economists use it precisely. A slump suggests a sharper, more dramatic fall, often accompanied by falling prices and high unemployment. A slowdown is the mildest of the four — it implies that growth is still happening but at a reduced pace. For example, a newspaper headline might say 'Downturn hits car sales' to describe a general decline, while 'Economy enters recession' signals an official, more serious contraction. 'Retail sales slump' would describe a sudden, severe drop, and 'Growth slowdown expected next quarter' suggests a gentle deceleration.

recession ↗slump ↗slowdown ↗downturn ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in a downturn
  • during a downturn
  • the current downturn
  • signs of a downturn
  • the worst downturn in decades

Prepositions

Etymology

English

Formed by combining the adverb 'down' (meaning 'toward a lower position') with the noun 'turn' (meaning 'a change in direction'). The compound first appeared in English in the 1920s, initially in business and economic writing to describe a downward shift in commercial activity. The pattern follows the earlier noun 'upturn' (coined in the 1800s) by reversing the direction prefix.