Pronunciation: [dˈa͡ʊnwədz] (IPA) 
The word "downwards" is spelled with a silent "w". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is /ˈdaʊnwərdz/. The "w" is not pronounced, and the "s" at the end of the word is pronounced as a voiced "z" sound. The word means in a downward direction, moving from a higher to a lower position. It is commonly used to describe the movement of objects or individuals, or to indicate a descending trend or direction.
Downwards is an adverb that describes movement or direction toward a lower position or level. It indicates a downward or descending motion or trajectory. This term is often used to express movement from a higher elevation to a lower one, in relation to a vertical or vertical-like plane.
In a literal context, downwards is used to describe physical movements such as descending a staircase, rolling down a hill, or falling to the ground. It suggests a displacement towards a position that is lower in relation to a reference point.
Metaphorically, downwards can be applied to abstract concepts and trends. For example, an economic downturn refers to the decline of economic activity or the deterioration of a market. Similarly, the term can be used to describe a decrease in moral standards, a decline in progress, or a decrease in quality or quantity.
The word downwards can also describe a decline in emotion or mood, suggesting a shift towards a more negative or sadder state. It can be used to express feelings of sadness, disappointment, or dejection.
Overall, downwards is an adverb that signifies movement, direction, or trends towards a lower position or level, whether in a physical, metaphorical, or emotional sense.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "downwards" is formed by combining the adverb "down" with the suffix "-wards".
The adverb "down" originated from the Old English word "dūne", which originally meant "from the hill". It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "dūnaz", meaning "down" or "from a higher position to a lower one".
The suffix "-wards" has its roots in the Old English word "-weard", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic "-warda", meaning "toward" or "in the direction of". It is often used to indicate movement or direction.
Therefore, when "down" and "-wards" are combined, the word "downwards" simply means "in the direction of down" or "toward a lower position".
