downtown
Urban business district
Downtown is the central business district of a city—where offices, shops, and commercial activity concentrate.
As an adverb or adjective, it indicates direction toward or location in this area: I'm heading downtown, a downtown apartment.
In American usage, downtown often implies urban energy and density, contrasting with residential neighborhoods and suburbs.
Urban profile against atmosphere
- highriseMultistory urban building
- towersTall vertical structures
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
- buildingsConstructed enclosed structures
architecture · facade · steel · glass · concrete · rooftop · panoramic · penthouse
Inherited cultural legacy
- landmarkNotable point of reference
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- architectureBuilding design discipline
- colonialOf occupied territories
Victorian · cobblestone · townhall · monument · restoration · oldtown · brownstones · gaslight
Central connection point
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- coreCentral essential portion
- heartlandCentral region of significance
centerpiece · crossroads · junction · mainstreet · CBD · heart · center · locale
Sectioning areas by use
- gentrificationWealthy influx displacing locals
- redevelopmentRebuilding an existing area
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
- municipalOf city government
rezoning · pedestrianization · revitalization · density · ordinances · permits
Daily work travelers
- subwayUnderground transit passage
- metroUrban rail transit
- taxiVehicle for hire
- rideshareShared vehicle transit
congestion · gridlock · parking · garages · pedestrians · shuttles
Sales to end users
- shopsRetail establishments
- boutiquesSmall fashionable stores
- merchantsThose who conduct commerce
- vendorsThose who sell goods
marketplace · storefronts · windowshopping · mall · consumers · sales · flagship · emporium
Broad, tree-lined street
- avenueBroad urban roadway
- sidewalkPaved pedestrian pathway
- crosswalkMarked street-crossing zone
- intersectionPoint where paths meet
pavement · alleyway · promenade · one-way · pedestrian · streetlights · storefronts · awnings
Residential area nearby
Rods, taverns, or measures
- clubsHeavy striking sticks
- nightclubsEvening entertainment venues
- loungesReclines idly or waiting areas
- pubsCasual drinking establishments
speakeasy · karaoke · DJ · dancefloor · cocktails · entertainment · venues · theater
skyline
Urban profile against atmosphere
- highriseMultistory urban building
- towersTall vertical structures
- skyscrapersExtremely tall urban buildings
buildings · architecture · facade · steel · glass · concrete · rooftop · panoramic · penthouse · modernism
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- landmarkNotable point of reference
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- architectureBuilding design discipline
colonial · Victorian · cobblestone · townhall · monument · restoration · oldtown · brownstones · gaslight · heritage
hub
Central connection point
heartland · centerpiece · crossroads · junction · mainstreet · CBD · heart · center · locale · territory
zoning
Sectioning areas by use
- gentrificationWealthy influx displacing locals
- redevelopmentRebuilding an existing area
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
municipal · rezoning · pedestrianization · revitalization · density · ordinances · permits
commuters
Daily work travelers
rideshare · congestion · gridlock · parking · garages · pedestrians · shuttles
retail
Sales to end users
vendors · marketplace · storefronts · windowshopping · mall · consumers · sales · flagship · emporium · outlets
boulevard
Broad, tree-lined street
intersection · pavement · alleyway · promenade · one-way · pedestrian · streetlights · storefronts · awnings · benches
neighborhood
Residential area nearby
bars
Rods, taverns, or measures
- clubsHeavy striking sticks
- nightclubsEvening entertainment venues
- loungesReclines idly or waiting areas
pubs · speakeasy · karaoke · DJ · dancefloor · cocktails · entertainment · venues · theater · afterhours
- Citycity, suburb, city center, city block, high street
- placescity, village, hamlet, building, buildings
- places & surroundingslandscape, scenery, terrain, neighborhood, vicinity
- city lifecity, urban life, traffic noise, metropolis, city life
- city planningzoning, permits, permit, public works, sewers
- city areasurban core, city center, inner city, business district, financial district
downtownunhip
Lacking current awareness
uncool · unfashionable · untrendy · square · unstylish
downtownresidential
Relating to housing
suburban · rural · uptown · neighborhood · industrial
- going downtownMoving toward business district
- downtown areaUrban commercial heart
- downtown skyline
- downtown squareCentral urban public space
- historic downtownSignificant original city center
- went downtownTraveled to commercial district