download

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "download" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the action of transferring data from the internet or another source to a local device. Example: "Please download the software from the official website to ensure you have the latest version."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Dry, a little impudent and just terrifically frank, musician James Blake thinks he knows what will happen when his second album is released tomorrow: the majority of us will download it for free.

The Guardian - Music

Full instructions are on the pdf – download it here You will need Scissors Card Glue Elastic/string Instructions Stick your printed page on to your card.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Click here to download the full data as a spreadsheet.

The Guardian

Make sure to download from the website, SoundCloud or iTunes when it goes up in a few hours.

The Guardian - Sport

Siri is now only available on the iPhone 4S Until Tuesday evening, Siri.com was the home page for the company which Apple already owned, and you could download a free app which would work on older iPhones (back to the 3GS: here's a review) and offer you much of the Siri functionality.

The Guardian - Tech

You can see them below or download them from the spreadsheet, with further details.

The Guardian

European Space Agency ESA) images There are plenty of images about the mission available to download here from the ESA.

The Guardian

Rather than manually selecting what you want to download, there is one button that allows you to download your homescreen and your favourites.

The Guardian

Handset makers generally struggle to make profit, even in China where hardly any use Google's services, instead using the open-source Android Open Source Platform (AOSP) and offer (and monetise) their own maps, search and app download services.

The Guardian - Tech

The group of companies - and you can download and explore the data below - have a combined turnover between 2008 and 2011 of £116.4bn.

The Guardian

It's not an ad designed to get you to download the game, not really.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Specify the file format or version when providing download instructions to avoid user confusion, such as "Download the latest PDF version".

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "downloading" a file with "streaming" content. "Downloading" saves a copy of the file to your device, while "streaming" allows you to access the content without permanently storing it. Use the appropriate term to accurately describe the intended action.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "download" is a verb, denoting the action of transferring data from a remote server to a local device. It can also function as a noun, referring to the file that is transferred. Ludwig examples shows the multiple usages of the word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Tech

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "download" is a very common term with a neutral register, primarily used in News & Media and Tech contexts. It functions both as a verb and a noun, describing the process or the resulting file from transferring data from a remote source to a local device. Ludwig's AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and while alternatives like "get" or "obtain" exist, "download" is the most precise and widely understood term in most digital contexts. Avoid confusing it with "stream", and follow best practices to ensure clear communication when instructing users on how to obtain files.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Get

Implies obtaining something, often used in the context of acquiring software or files.

Obtain

A more formal way of saying to get something, often implying effort or a process.

Acquire

Similar to obtain, but can also imply gaining access to something.

Copy

Refers to creating a duplicate of a file or data from one location to another.

Transfer

Suggests moving data from one place to another, which is a core component of downloading.

Retrieve

Implies getting something back from a stored location, similar to accessing a download.

Save

Refers to storing a file or data on a local device, often synonymous with downloading.

Install

Specifically refers to setting up software on a device after it has been downloaded.

Fetch

An informal way to describe retrieving data or files.

Pull

In a technical context, 'pull' means to retrieve code or data from a repository.

FAQs

What does "download" mean in computing?

In computing, "download" refers to the process of transferring data from a remote system (like a server) to a local device (like a computer or smartphone). This often involves retrieving files, software, or other digital content from the internet or a network.

What can I say instead of "download"?

You can use alternatives like "get", "obtain", "acquire", or "retrieve" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "downloaded" as the past tense of "download"?

Yes, "downloaded" is the correct past tense and past participle of "download". For example, "I downloaded the file yesterday" or "The file has been downloaded successfully".

What is the difference between "download" and "upload"?

"Download" refers to receiving data from a remote source to your local device, while "upload" refers to sending data from your local device to a remote source.