1
: controlled, directed, or instituted from the top level
a top-down corporate structure
2
: proceeding by breaking large general aspects (as of a problem) into smaller more detailed constituents : working from the general to the specific
top-down programming
top-down design

Examples of top-down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And it won’t be solved by job descriptions, dashboards, or top-down messaging. Nirit Cohen, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025 Switching from top-down to bottom watering can also reduce mold issues. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2025 And Execution Of Goals Goals are typically defined in a top-down manner, but success hinges on individual buy-in, so engaging team members throughout both planning and execution can allow goals to be met. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 Key voices say the party is too centralized, too top-down and too afraid to challenge its young leader. Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for top-down

Word History

Etymology

from the phrase from the top down

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-down was in 1930

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top-down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-down. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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