1To descend or go down; to move from a higher position to a lower one.
雪山を登ったあと、村へ下るのに半日かかった。
After climbing the snowy mountain, it took half a day to go down to the village.
坂を下ると川に出る。
If you go down the slope, you'll reach the river.
台風の影響で気温が急に下った。
Due to the typhoon, the temperature suddenly dropped.
2To be handed down — used for official decisions such as judgments, orders, or rulings being issued.
裁判でついに有罪の判決が下った。
Finally, a guilty verdict was handed down in the trial.
大会本部から中止の命令が下った。
An order to cancel was issued from the tournament headquarters.
3To pass, referring to the passage of time.
その事件から数年が下った後、真相が明らかになった。
Several years passed after that incident before the truth became clear.
夜が下ると町の灯りが美しく見える。
When night falls, the town lights look beautiful.
4To surrender or capitulate (a somewhat literary or formal usage).
守城軍はついに降服して城は相手に下った。
The defending army finally surrendered and the castle fell to the opponent.
5To be less than or inferior to (used to indicate that a quantity or level falls below a certain value).
被害の数はついに十人に下った。
The number of victims finally fell to ten.
そのチームの実力は決して彼らに下るものではない。
That team's ability is by no means inferior to theirs.
6Colloquially, to have diarrhea or an upset stomach (commonly used in the phrase 腹が下る).
旅行中に腹が下って大変だった。
I had diarrhea during the trip and it was awful.
あの店の料理で腹が下る人が続出した。
Many people got diarrhea from the food at that restaurant.
7To be discharged from the body (of stool) — a more clinical usage referring to passing stool.
薬の副作用で便が下ることがあるので、医師に相談してください。
Because the medicine can cause bowel movements, consult your doctor.
8An archaic usage meaning 'to humble oneself' or 'to abase oneself'. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
古文では『身を下る』のような表現が謙遜を示すために用いられることがあった。
In classical texts, expressions like 'to abase oneself' were used to show humility.