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average down

C1 formal intransitive
In simple words

When the price of something you own goes down, you buy more of it so your average price paid becomes lower.

Literal meaning: To bring an average figure downward.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

In investing, to buy additional shares of a stock at a lower price than you previously paid, reducing your average cost per share.

"She averaged down on her tech shares after they dropped 20%, hoping for a long-term recovery."

2 C1 neutral

Generally, to make repeated purchases at declining prices to reduce the overall average price paid.

"Collectors often average down on items they believe are temporarily undervalued."

Usage notes

Specialist financial and investing terminology. Common in stock market discussions, trading forums, and investment journalism. Also called 'dollar-cost averaging downward'. Can be risky if the asset continues to fall. Primarily used in North American financial contexts.

Commonly used with

stock shares position portfolio price cost basis

Forms

Base
average down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
averages down
he/she/it
Past simple
averaged down
yesterday
Past participle
averaged down
have + pp
-ing form
averaging down
continuous

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