download

/ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/

//ˈdaʊnˌləʊd// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"download" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“download” has 12 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #2,106. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#2,106
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords
12
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A file transfer to a given computer or device from a remote one through a network connection.

Corpus desk

Index EN-download · download · English

download · rank #2,106 · 12 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #2,106
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-MID 12 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH contains

Nearest frequency peer: contains (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “download”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “download” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for download
PropertyValue
Headworddownload
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#2,106
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “download”

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).downloadlands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Same rarity band neighbours include “contains” (#2,105), “email” (#2,107), “connected” (#2,104). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “download” is #2,106. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 12 spelling variants around download (IPA /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #2,106 among 3,470 “D” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for download, with forms such as "ddownload", "donwload", and "dowlnoad". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From down- + load. Verbal form first appears c. 1962 in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times. Nominal form first appears c. 1977 in Scientific American. The correct English form is download, spelled D-O-W-N-L-O-A-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A file transfer to a given computer or device from a remote one through a network connection.
  2. 2
    A file that has been or is intended to be transferred in this way.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how download appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The download took longer than I expected.
  2. I got the download but it wouldn't work on my computer.

Etymology

From down- + load. Verbal form first appears c. 1962 in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times. Nominal form first appears c. 1977 in Scientific American.

This word in other languages

descarga(Español)téléchargement(Français)Download(Deutsch)descarregamento(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ddownload
  • donwload
  • dowlnoad
  • downlaod
  • downlload
  • downloadd
  • downloda
  • downnload
  • downolad
  • dowwnload
  • dwonload
  • odwnload

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of download - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ddownload1donwload2dowlnoad2downlaod2downlload1downloadd1downloda2downnload1
Edit distance from "download"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "download"?
"download" is spelled D-O-W-N-L-O-A-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/.
What does "download" mean?
As a noun, "download" means: A file transfer to a given computer or device from a remote one through a network connection.
What are common misspellings of "download"?
Common misspellings include "ddownload", "donwload", "dowlnoad", "downlaod", "downlload". The correct spelling is "download".
How do you pronounce "download"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "download" is /ˈdaʊnˌləʊd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "download"?
From down- + load. Verbal form first appears c. 1962 in the Wichita Falls (Texas) Times. Nominal form first appears c. 1977 in Scientific American. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "download", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

contains#2,105exercise#2,109combined#2,102people's#2,121

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (12 here; floor ≥5).

connected12 variantsselected12 variantssuggested12 variantssupported12 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list