downturn Syllabification: (down·turn)Pronunciation: /ˈdounˌtərn/Translate downturn | into French | into German | into Italian Definition of downturn noun a decline in economic, business, or other activity:a downturn in the housing market verb [with object] (usually as adjective downturned) turn (something) downward:his downturned mouthdownturn in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of downturn in the British & World English dictionary