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# downside

noun (a downside, downsides)

«downside» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A downside is the bad part or disadvantage of something that is mostly good. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#m1)
2. The downside of a plan is what could go wrong or what it costs you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in debates, persuasive writing and decision-making: listing upsides and downsides (pros and cons). Tells the reader there is a catch. Phrases: the downside is, on the downside, upside and downside.

### Examples

- The downside of having a dog is walking it in the rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x1)
- Living near school is great; the only downside is no bus ride with friends. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x2)
- Every plan has a downside. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x3)
- One downside of screens at night is poor sleep. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x4)
- On the downside, the trip costs a lot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x5)
- List the upsides and downsides before you choose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/#x6)

### Note

Opposite: upside. Informal-neutral; formal word: disadvantage. Do not mix up with «downside up» (a joke) or «upside down». In a decision problem, weigh downsides against upsides.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «downside» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/downside/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«downside» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/downside.html) on Mova free.