downcast
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downcast¹
- /ˈdaʊnkɑːst/ UK
- /-kæst/ UK
- /ˈdaʊnˌkæst/ US
Where it comes from
The adjective is derived from Middle English doun-casten, *adoun-casten (“(adjective) cast down, dejected; (verb) to break down (something); to overcome (someone); to overturn (something)”), from down (“in a downward direction; (figurative) to destruction”), adoun (“downward”) + casten (“to throw (something), fling, hurl; to overcome (someone), defeat, overpower; [etc.]”) (from Old Norse kasta (“to cast, throw”), from Proto-Germanic *kastōną (“to throw”), from *kas- (“to throw, toss; to bring up”); further etymology uncertain), modelled similarly to other constructions in Middle English such as adoun-throwen (“to throw down”) and adoun-werpen (“to throw down”)). The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“that has been thrown”, adjective).
The noun is derived from the adjective.
adjective more downcast · most downcast
- Of the eyes, a facial expression, etc.: looking downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty. Briefly then heere Dido, with downe caſt phiſnomie, parled.
- Of a person or thing: cast or thrown to the ground. VVhere liues all vvoe? conduct him to vs three, / The dovvne-caſt ruines of calamitie.
- Of a thing: directed downwards.
-
Of a person: feeling despondent or discouraged.
His fine and lovely eyes were now lighted up with indignation, now subdued to downcast sorrow and quenched in infinite wretchedness.
Similar: sorrowful, unhappy, atrabiliary, atrabilious, blitheless, dispirited, blue, bummed out, chapfallen, cheerless, chopfallen, crestfallen
- Of a person or thing: defeated, overthrown; also, destroyed, ruined.
downcast²
- /ˈdaʊnkɑːst/ UK
- /-kæst/ UK
- /ˈdaʊnˌkæst/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English downcast (“misfortune”), adoun-cast (“destruction, overthrow”), from adoun (“downward”) + cast (“a throw, a cast”) (from Old Norse kast (“a throw”), from kasten (“to cast, throw”)), from Middle English casten adoun: see etymology 1. The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“act of throwing”, noun).
noun downcasts
- An act of looking downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty; hence (uncountable, archaic), dejection, melancholy. [C]ome lets be ſad my girles, / That dovvne caſt of thine eye Olimpias, / Shovves a faind ſorrovv; […]
- An act, or the situation, of being cast or thrown to the ground.
- A defeat, an overthrow; also, an act of destruction or ruin.
-
A cast (“change of expression of a data type”) from supertype to subtype.
Opposite: upcast
- A ventilating shaft down which air passes in circulating through a mine.
downcast³
- /ˈdaʊnkɑːst/ UK
- /-kæst/ UK
- /daʊnˈkɑːst/ UK
- /-ˈkæst/ UK
- /ˈdaʊnˌkæst/ US
- /ˌdaʊnˈkæst/ US
Rhymes with -ɑːst, -æst
Where it comes from
From Middle English doun-casten, *adoun-casten (“to cast or throw (something) downwards; to break down (something); to overcome (someone); to overturn (something)”), from down (“in a downward direction; (figurative) to destruction”), adoun (“downward”) + casten (“to throw (something), fling, hurl; to overcome (someone), defeat, overpower; [etc.]”): see etymology 1. The English word is analysable as down- (prefix meaning ‘lower direction or position’) + cast (“to throw”, verb).
verb downcasts · downcasting · downcast · downcasted
- To turn (the eyes) downwards, usually as a sign of discouragement, sadness, etc., or sometimes modesty.
- To cast or throw (something) downwards; also, to drop or lower (something). For there shall come a mightier blast, / There shall be a darker day; / And the stars, from heaven down-cast, / Like red leaves be swept away!
- To demolish or tear down (a building, etc.).
-
To make (someone) feel despondent or discouraged; to discourage, to sadden.
Similar: cast down
-
To cast (“change the expression of”) (a data type) from supertype to subtype.
Opposite: upcast
- To reproach or upbraid (someone); also, to taunt (someone).
-
To depose or overthrow (a leader, an institution, etc.); also (sometimes reflexive), to bring down (oneself or someone) from an exalted position; to humble.
Similar: cast down
Translations
Every language
adj of the eyes, etc.: looking downwards
| Deutsch | niedergeschlagen |
|---|
adj of a person: feeling despondent or discouraged — see also despondent, discouraged
| Español | abatido, alicaído, cabizbajo |
|---|---|
| Français | abattu, affaibli |
| Deutsch | entmutigt, geknickt, niedergeschlagen |
| Italiano | abbattuto |
verb to turn (the eyes) downwards
| Русский | потупить взор potupitʹ vzor, потупить взгляд potupitʹ vzgljad, опустить глаза opustitʹ glaza, опустить очи долу opustitʹ oči dolu |
|---|
Talk about this word "downcast." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/downcast. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. downcast. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/downcast "downcast." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/downcast.Cite this
@misc{downcast_2026,
title = {downcast},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/downcast},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
