English Word · Advanced
downturn
a decline in economic activity
Pronunciation: DOWN-turn
Meaning
A period when business activity, trade, or the economy becomes weaker.
Example
Small firms struggled during the economic downturn.
Small firms struggled during the decline in economic activity.
Practice tips
- Practice downturn out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English word is for advanced-level learners.