Meaning & use
slight downturns
Last updated
“slight downturns” is a form of “slight downturn”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Small decreases in the level or amount of business activity, prices, or other measured things.
Grammar: The plural form is used for more than one small decrease; the singular is 'a slight downturn'.
Patterns
- slight downturns in something
- experience slight downturns
- slight downturns in sales
The company reported slight downturns in sales during the summer months.
Economists noted slight downturns in consumer spending across several regions.
Despite slight downturns in the market, investors remained optimistic.
Word forms
| singular | slight downturn |
|---|
Common combinations
- slight downturns in sales
- The retailer experienced slight downturns in sales after the holiday season.
- slight downturns in the economy
- Slight downturns in the economy can worry small business owners.
- report slight downturns
- Analysts report slight downturns in tourism this year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dips
- More informal and often suggests a quick, temporary drop; 'slight downturns' sounds more measured and economic.
- declines
- Stronger and more general; 'slight downturns' emphasizes that the decrease is small.
Opposites
Word family
- downturn noun
- A general decrease in economic or business activity.
Commonly confused: slight downturns or downturn?
slight downturns vs downturn
The base noun; 'slight downturns' adds the adjective 'slight' to show the decrease is small.
Practice
The report mentioned ______ in tourism this quarter.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'slight downturns' fits because the report mentions more than one small decrease. 'Slight downturn' is singular and would need 'a' before it. 'Slightly downturns' is ungrammatical because 'slightly' is an adverb and cannot modify a noun. 'Slight downturning' is not a standard noun form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slight downturns”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.