To change down is move the gear lever in order to change to a lower gear in a motor vehicle.
British and Australian English.
US English:
downshift (verb)
Examples of use:
1. I changed down to third gear to go up the hill.
2. Change down to second gear.
3. My car has a fault. When I change down to third gear the gear lever gets stuck.
infinitive | change down |
present simple | change down and changes down |
-ing form | changing down |
past simple | changed down |
past participle | changed down |
To change up is to change to a higher gear.
Image © Ed Callow