How to Use down the line in a Sentence

down the line

1 of 2 phrase
  • Again, solving for the burning issue may just push the base problem down the line.
    — Theodore Chien, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Johan Vasquez found Jesus Gallardo, who nudged it down the line to Quinones.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • They can also be used to keep the satellite in orbit over the years, or potentially relocate the satellite later down the line.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 July 2026
  • Recently, that meant bringing in a standout college talent who seemed poised to make a difference for the organization down the line.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Brushing, flossing and regular cleanings function less like cosmetic upkeep and more like the kind of low-cost preventive habit that shows up in lifespan data years down the line.
    — Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
  • Long-term upgrades that can protect your home Structural upgrades to your home’s roofing, windows and drainage systems offer long-term storm protection and can prevent serious damage down the line.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • If new cars can't come straight out of the factory completely free of software errors, automakers can issue regular free updates and patches to vehicles to avoid safety and reliability issues down the line.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 1 July 2026

down-the-line

2 of 2 adjective
  • Sadly, there was no space for her in either the main categories or the down-the-line spots.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His break in the second set owed plenty to a down-the-line backhand passing shot from deep in the backcourt that nearly resembled a hard lob.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 1 May 2026
  • Alcaraz toyed with an unconventional wide position on serve, which opened up an even more extreme angle for him; Sinner began slinging those returns down-the-line.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • His down-the-line forehand averages 75 mph, which is 4 mph faster than the tour average but 6 mph slower than his usual regular topspin forehand.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 26 May 2026
  • He shouldn’t be looked at as a replacement for Mike Evans, but he might be looked at as a down-the-line lineup replacement for 30-year old Chris Godwin, depending on how long Godwin plays.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Instead of the same wider down-the-line shots, the network showed tighter solo shots of select players, including Stephon Castle, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, as well as both head coaches.
    — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'down the line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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