downshift — English Dictionary

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Language

downshift

Pronunciations (2)

Noun

A change of direction or a movement downwards.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
A reduction in quality or quantity.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
A change in career or lifestyle to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
A shift of a transmission into a lower gear, as dictated by heavier load on the engine, as for example when climbing a hill or strongly accelerating.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
Antonyms
upshift
Broader terms
gear change

Examples

The driver, Lindsay, gave me a regal wave at the top after he had completed a series of perfect downshifts[.]

To reduce (something) in quality or quantity (as effect, scope, speed, etc.)
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Transitive
Synonyms
attenuate

Examples

More examples (1)

But in this variation on Superbad's wild night of transgression, downshifting the age of the protagonists from teen to tween actually only enhances the stealth, wide-eyed innocence that secretly drives this genre of pre-college hedonism.
To change (one's career or lifestyle) to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Transitive
To shift (a car or bicycle) into a lower gear.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Transitive
Antonyms
upshift
Broader terms
shift gears

Examples

He brought the car to a stop before the bridge, downshifted and then put her at the road again in a rising disciplined snarl along the N.6 to Cannes.
To function at a lower rate; to slacken.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Intransitive
To change one's career or lifestyle to one which is not as well paid but less stressful and more personally rewarding.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Intransitive
To shift a transmission into a lower gear.
Usage
- Canada
- US usage
- Intransitive
Antonyms
upshift

Examples

In a stick-shift vehicle, the driver must downshift when necessary; in an automatic, the transmission downshifts as needed.

a change from a financially rewarding but stressful career to a less well paid but more fulfilling one

Broader terms
change
a change to a lower gear in a car or bicycle

Broader terms
change

Word forms

downshiftsdownshiftsdownshiftingdownshifteddownshifted