downtown

/ˌˈdaʊnˌˈtaʊn/

/daʊnˈtaʊn/

Other forms: downtowns; downtowner

Downtown is the area of a city that's the busiest, with the most shops, restaurants, buildings, and pedestrians. You can usually take a bus, train, or subway to get around downtown.

The widespread use of downtown probably started in New York City during the early 19th century. The original city hub was located at the southern tip of Manhattan, and as development proceeded northward, New Yorkers began to distinguish between downtown and uptown. In many cities today, downtown doesn't refer to the southern area of the city, just its heart or center.

Definitions of downtown

1. noun

   the central area or commercial center of a town or city
   “the heart of Birmingham's downtown”

   synonyms: business district

   types:

   Tin Pan Alley

   a city district (originally in New York) where composers and publishers of popular music do business

   type of:

   city district

   a district of a town or city
2. adverb

   toward or in the lower or central part of town
   antonyms:

   uptown

   toward or in the upper part of town
3. adjective

   of or located in the lower part of a town, or in the business center
   “downtown Manhattan”

   “delinquents roaming the downtown streets”

   antonyms:

   uptown

   of or located in the upper part of a town