downgrade

1 of 2

noun

down·​grade ˈdau̇n-ˌgrād 

1

: a downward grade (as of a road)

2

: a descent toward an inferior state

a career on the downgrade

downgrade

2 of 2

verb

downgraded; downgrading; downgrades

transitive verb

1

: to lower in quality, value, status, or extent

2

: minimize, depreciate

Synonyms

Noun

• decadence
• declension
• declination
• decline
• degeneracy
• degeneration
• degradation
• dégringolade
• descent
• deterioration
• devolution
• downfall
• ebb
• eclipse
• fall

Verb

• break
• bust
• degrade
• demote
• disrate
• reduce

Examples of downgrade in a Sentence

Noun

a downgrade in the company's stock prices

a singing career on the downgrade

Verb

The restaurant was downgraded from three to two stars.

She didn't intend to downgrade the importance of her colleague's work.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Other downgrades also followed adverse rate decisions on United Illuminating and Aquarion Water dating back two years. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 Dec. 2024

What's New Former NFL player and one-time Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker has been nominated by Donald Trump to be ambassador to the Bahamas—however, his new role is a downgrade from the role Trump previously suggested for him. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

Verb

Bank of America downgrades Duolingo to neutral from buy Bank of America downgraded the stock mainly on valuation. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024

The weather service has downgraded high-wind warnings to advisories. —Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

downgrade

1 of 2 noun

down·​grade -ˌgrād 

1

: a downward slope

2

: a lowering toward a worse condition

a neighborhood on the downgrade

downgrade adverb

downgrade

2 of 2 verb

: to lower in grade, rank, or standing