Meaning of down payment | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A payment representing a fraction of the price of something being purchased, made to secure the right to continue making payments towards that purchase.
2. Any initial commitment signifying an intention to carry out a larger future commitment, even though no legal rights or obligations are secured.
   broadly

Equivalents

Examples

“Her parents considered her school tuition a down payment on her future.”

“After decades of empty rhetoric, that's the down payment that we need on energy independence.”

“2009 April 4, Barack Obama, NATO summit These commitments of troops, trainers, and civilians represent a strong down payment on the future of our mission in Afghanistan and on the future of NATO.”

“After all, when you buy a car, you're making a large down payment on future journeys - buying an annual rail pass or railcard should be no different.”

CEFR level