downstream

In the direction that water flows along a river.

• The boat floated downstream.
• We paddled downstream for an hour.
• The current carried the fallen branches downstream.

Opposites: upstream

Common phrases: float downstream, paddle downstream, travel downstream

Further along a river in the direction its water flows, compared with another place.

• The village is downstream from the dam.
• We found a campsite downstream of the bridge.
• Fish were dying downstream from the factory.

How to use it: downstream from/of somewhere (The old mill is downstream from the village.)

Opposites: upstream

Common phrases: downstream from something, downstream of something

Happening later in a process, often as a result of an earlier action.

• The mistake caused downstream problems.
• We need to consider the downstream effects of this decision.
• Better planning reduced costs at downstream stages.

Similar words: subsequent

Opposites: upstream

Common phrases: downstream effects, downstream consequences, downstream stages