downbound

8.2

To move toward a lower place, like a boat going downstream or a train going south

adjective
/ˈdaʊnˌbaʊnd/

: río abajo

All downbound trains are scheduled to arrive before noon.

Examples

The downbound freighter passed us early in the morning, heading towards the river's mouth.
Many delays occurred because the bridge was raised to let a downbound tugboat through.
The downbound train arrived on time.
A downbound boat floated lazily on the river.
The riverboat is on a downbound journey, sailing toward the open sea.
We watched as the downbound train departed, heading for the valley below.
The downbound cruise ship glided smoothly towards its destination in warmer waters.

Synonyms

downriver

vsdownbound

18 2.8

In the direction a river flows away from its source

is broader, used for travel toward lower elevation or along downstream routes

Surface Forms

downbound positive

Morphology

downbound = bound (transparent) = down + bound

Meaning is a direct, productive combination of the direction 'down' and the adjective 'bound' (analogous to 'northbound' or 'eastbound'), so learners can infer the sense. [Postprocessing: moved 'down' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word downbound is made of down- meaning 'lower' or 'toward the mouth of a river' and -bound meaning 'going toward', the same bound in homebound or northbound. So a downbound train, ship, or route is one that is 'going toward' a lower place, downstream, or the usual destination in that direction.