glance downwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "glance downwards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the action of quickly looking down at something, often to indicate a change in focus or attention. Example: "As she spoke, he couldn't help but glance downwards at his watch, anxious about the time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For the most part, common sense and the occasional glance downwards were all that was required, though in a few residential areas more care was needed.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I also try hard not to look at other people's bits, imagining genitalia-ogling to be rude, but make a couple of surreptitious glances downwards – for the sake of research.

Vice

Aliaa glanced downward.

The New York Times - Magazine

You've tried the you-think-sly-but-actually-really-obvious downwards glance.

Huffington Post

In order to present more data to the user, the AA app switched from a largely page-driven system to a 'linear' data display that has you scrolling downwards in a main view to get your at-a-glance status.

TechCrunch

Only downwards.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Downwards on trade, downwards on productivity, downwards on global growth".

The Guardian - Business

His voice curls downwards.

The Guardian - Music

In a downwards direction.

The Guardian

Waving downwards signals disagreement.

The Guardian

'Socialism' kept being defined downwards".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "glance downwards" to subtly indicate a shift in focus or attention towards something below, often implying a brief or casual observation. This is particularly effective in descriptive writing to add nuance to character actions and settings.

Common error

While "glance downwards" is grammatically sound, avoid overusing it in formal or technical writing where simpler alternatives like "look down" or "observe below" might be more appropriate and less distracting. Overuse can make your writing sound unnatural or forced.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "glance downwards" functions as a verb phrase, where "glance" is the verb indicating a quick look and "downwards" is an adverb modifying the verb, specifying the direction of the glance. As Ludwig AI states, this phrase is correct and usable in written English, describing the action of quickly looking down.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "glance downwards" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe a quick, downward look. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, including news and media and science, making it a versatile choice for descriptive writing. For more formal contexts, consider using simpler alternatives like "look down". When used appropriately, "glance downwards" adds nuance and detail to your writing, effectively conveying subtle shifts in focus or attention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

look down

Uses a more common verb for the action of directing one's gaze downward.

look downward

Replaces the verb "glance" with the more general "look".

cast a downward glance

Employs a more formal and literary tone.

gaze downwards

Replaces "glance" with "gaze", suggesting a longer, more intent look.

peered down

Suggests looking down from a height or over an edge.

take a quick look down

Adds emphasis on the quickness of the action and replaces "glance" with the expression "take a quick look".

lower one's eyes

Focuses on the action of lowering the eyes rather than the direction of the gaze.

look at the ground

Specifies the target of the downward look.

direct one's gaze downward

A formal way to describe the action of looking down.

drop one's gaze

Suggests a quick and perhaps involuntary downward movement of the eyes.

FAQs

How can I use "glance downwards" in a sentence?

"Glance downwards" describes the action of quickly looking down. For example: "He had to glance downwards to avoid eye contact".

What's a more common way to say "glance downwards"?

A more common alternative to "glance downwards" is "look down", which is simpler and more frequently used in everyday language.

Is "glance downward" grammatically correct?

While less common, "glance downward" can also be grammatically correct, though "glance downwards" is more frequently encountered and accepted in standard English.

What is the difference between "glance downwards" and "stare downwards"?

"Glance downwards" implies a quick look, while "stare downwards" suggests a prolonged and fixed gaze in a downward direction. The duration and intensity of the look are the key differences.