download
/ˌdaʊnˈləʊd/ IELTSAcademic
verb
to copy data, files, or software from the internet or another computer onto your device. It is the opposite of upload.
- I need to download the app.
- She downloaded the report last night.
- Please download the file before the meeting.
noun
a file, app, or piece of data that has been copied onto your device. It can also mean the act of downloading.
- The download took five minutes.
- This is a free download.
- My download stopped halfway.
Adinary Nuance
Use download when data moves from the internet or a server to your device. It is more specific than get or copy, which can mean many things. In tech writing, download is the standard word; in casual speech, people may also say save or install, but those are not the same.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tải xuống
- Spanish
- descargar
- Chinese
- 下载
- Japanese
- ダウンロード
- Korean
- 다운로드
Etymology
Created in English in the late 20th century from down + load, with the computer sense becoming common in the 1980s and 1990s.
Common phrases
download a filedownload an appdownload speedfree download
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between download and upload?
- Download means data comes to your device. Upload means data goes from your device to the internet or another computer.
- Is download a verb or a noun?
- It is both. You can download a file, and you can also say a download finished.
- Can I say 'download the app' or 'install the app'?
- Both are common, but they are different. Download means get the app file; install means put it on your device.
- Is download formal or informal?
- It is neutral and very common in everyday and business English.