Here you’ll find 20 Prepositions that start with D, organized from “despite” to “during the course of”. They range from single-word forms to common multi-word phrases used in writing, speech, and teaching.
Prepositions that start with D are words and phrases that link nouns, pronouns, or clauses to other sentence parts. Many come from Old English or Latin roots, and “despite” is a widely used, enduring example.
Below you’ll find the table with “Preposition”, “Definition”, “Common pairings”, and “Example”.
Preposition: Shows the preposition or prepositional phrase so you can locate the exact form for study, citation, or classroom use.
Definition: Gives a concise meaning in ten to twenty words so you quickly grasp how the preposition functions in sentences.
Common pairings: Lists three to five frequent collocations or complements so you see typical uses and build natural sentences.
Example: Provides one clear example sentence showing normal usage, punctuation, and natural word order for learners and writers.
Prepositions that start with D
| Preposition | Form | Definition | Common pairings |
|---|---|---|---|
| down | single-word | From a higher to a lower position | the stairs,the hill,the list,the street |
| during | single-word | Throughout the course of a period | the meeting,the week,the night,the summer |
| despite | single-word | Even though; without being prevented by | the rain,his efforts,the odds,the warning |
| due to | multi-word prepositional phrase | Because of; caused by | the delay,illness,technical problems,the weather |
| due for | multi-word prepositional phrase | Expected or scheduled to receive or have | maintenance,replacement,release,review |
| during the course of | multi-word prepositional phrase | Throughout the duration of something | the project,the year,the investigation,the trial |
| down to | multi-word prepositional phrase | Because of; or indicating responsibility/extent | you,the details,the final decision,the number |
| down on | multi-word prepositional phrase | Against; or physically onto a surface | his luck,the table,the dog,someone |
| down from | multi-word prepositional phrase | Moving or measured from a higher point or amount | the tree,the ladder,ten,to five |
| down in | multi-word prepositional phrase | Located low within or at a lower place | the valley,the cellar,the city,the basement |
| down into | multi-word prepositional phrase | Moving from above to inside something | the cave,the well,the details,the file |
| down through | multi-word prepositional phrase | Moving downward across levels or generations | the ranks,generations,the forest,the system |
| down under | multi-word prepositional phrase | Colloquial term for Australia or below something | Australia,the covers,the surface,the list |
| down the line | multi-word prepositional phrase | At a later time; along a process or sequence | later,consequences,decisions,progress |
| down the drain | multi-word prepositional phrase | Wasted or lost (idiom) | money,effort,time,plans |
| down to earth | multi-word prepositional phrase | Practical and realistic in attitude | person,approach,attitude,advice |
| down to the wire | multi-word prepositional phrase | Until the last possible moment | the race,the deadline,the negotiations,the contest |
| down with | multi-word prepositional phrase | Against (often as a protest) or enthusiastic agreement | the regime,that idea,the proposal,illness |
| down by | multi-word prepositional phrase | Indicating a decrease or margin of difference | two points,the score,the river,the roadside |
| down among | multi-word prepositional phrase | Located lower inside a group of things or people | the trees,the ruins,the crowd,the hills |
Descriptions
down
General-purpose preposition for lower direction or movement. [neutral] Example: She ran down the stairs to answer the door.
during
Indicates time within an interval; neutral register and common in speech and writing. [neutral/formal] Example: During the concert, the lights went out.
despite
A single-word preposition meaning ‘in spite of’; widely used in formal and informal English. [neutral] Example: Despite the traffic, she arrived on time.
due to
Commonly used to express cause; sometimes debated grammatically but widely accepted. [neutral/formal] Example: The game was postponed due to heavy rain.
due for
Used to say something is scheduled or expected; common in formal contexts. [neutral/formal] Example: The laptop is due for an update next week.
during the course of
A longer time phrase used in formal writing and speech. [formal] Example: During the course of the trial, new evidence emerged.
down to
Versatile phrase: causal, responsibility, or amount. Very common in spoken English. [neutral] Example: It all comes down to trust between team members.
down on
Can mean negatively disposed toward or located onto; common and idiomatic. [informal/neutral] Example: He’s been down on his luck since the move.
down from
Used for literal descent and decreases in number or amount. [neutral] Example: She climbed down from the roof safely.
down in
Describes location lower inside an area; can also mean emotionally low. [neutral/informal] Example: They live down in the valley near the river.
down into
Emphasizes movement toward an interior or more detailed level. [neutral] Example: He looked down into the dark well.
down through
Used for physical descent or metaphorical passage across layers. [neutral] Example: The story was passed down through the family.
down under
Idiomatic expression meaning ‘in or to Australia’ or literally ‘below’. [idiomatic][regional – Australia] Example: They spent January down under visiting family.
down the line
Informal phrase meaning ‘in future’ or ‘at any point along a sequence’. [informal] Example: We may expand the program down the line.
down the drain
Common idiom meaning something has been wasted or ruined. [idiomatic][informal] Example: After the cutoff, their work went down the drain.
down to earth
Idiomatic description for someone practical and unpretentious. [idiomatic][informal] Example: Despite success, he’s very down to earth.
down to the wire
Idiomatic phrase used when events remain undecided until the end. [idiomatic][informal] Example: The election results went down to the wire.
down with
Historical protest use (“Down with…”) and informal agreement (“I’m down with that”). [idiomatic][informal] Example: Protesters chanted “Down with corruption” outside City Hall.
down by
Common in sports/finance to show deficit or location beside something. [neutral/informal] Example: The team is down by three at halftime.
down among
Used to place someone or something within a lower area of a group or location. [neutral] Example: The cottage sits down among the pines.