down payment

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A first payment that covers part of a purchase price, with the rest paid later.

   Grammar: Countable: use a/an or a plural. Often followed by 'on' plus the item bought.

   Patterns

   • a down payment on something
   • make a down payment
   • put a down payment on something

   We made a down payment on the house last week.

   She put a 10% down payment on the car and financed the rest.

   The down payment was too high for us, so we waited.

2. 2nouncountable

   The amount of money paid at the start of an installment plan.

   Grammar: Countable; often with 'of' and a percentage or sum: a down payment of $2,000.

   Patterns

   • a down payment of [amount]
   • require a down payment
   • a down payment on a car/house

   They require a down payment of at least 20%.

   The down payment on the apartment was $15,000.

   He saved for months to cover the down payment.

Word forms

Common combinations

make a down payment

We need to make a down payment before the deadline.

put a down payment on

They put a down payment on a new sofa.

a large down payment

A large down payment reduces your monthly bills.

a 10% down payment

The bank asked for a 10% down payment.

down payment on a house

Saving for a down payment on a house takes years.

Synonyms and how they differ

deposit

More common in British English for the same idea; in American English, 'deposit' often suggests a refundable sum, while 'down payment' is part of the price.

initial payment

A broader term that can include fees or first installments, not only part of the purchase price.

Opposites

Word family

pay verb

To give money for something.

payment noun

An amount of money paid.

Commonly confused: down payment or installment?

Practice

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