adjective

downcast

/ˈdaʊnkæst/ · say it: DOWN·kast

sad and dispirited

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) sad or disappointed

2. (adjective) directed downward

Examples

1. She felt downcast after hearing the bad news.
2. He kept his eyes downcast, avoiding eye contact.

How to use downcast

Downcast as an emotional descriptor suggests disappointment or sadness, often conveyed through body language like lowered eyes or a dejected expression. It carries a slightly literary or formal tone compared to sad or disappointed, and often implies a visible manifestation of inner sadness rather than merely feeling it internally. The second sense (directed downward) is less common but appears in fixed phrases like 'downcast eyes' or 'downcast gaze'.

Common phrases

downcast eyes
downcast expression
downcast face
feel downcast
look downcast

Synonyms

dejected · dispirited · melancholy · disheartened · crestfallen

Opposites

upbeat · cheerful · elated

Word family

downcastly (adverb) · downcastness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse downcast with downright; downcast means sad or directed downward, not completely or outright.

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