downstream
UK: ˈdaʊnstriːm | US: ˈdaʊnstriːm
adj. / adv. in the direction of the flow of a river or current
adj. / adv. occurring or situated later in a process or sequence
n. the part of a stream or process that is further along in its course
The word "downstream" combines "down," from Old English dūne (meaning "from a higher to a lower position"), and "stream," from Old English strēam (meaning "flowing water"). The term logically describes movement or position along the natural direction of a river's flow, later extended metaphorically to processes or sequences. Its construction reflects the straightforward compounding common in English to describe spatial relationships.
The factory is located downstream from the village, so pollution affects the water supply.
In the software development process, testing occurs downstream of coding.
Fish often migrate downstream to spawn.
The downstream effects of the policy change were unexpected.
We paddled downstream for hours, enjoying the calm current.