downgrade

1 of 2

noun

down·​grade ˈdau̇n-ˌgrād How to pronounce downgrade (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The provision for credit losses was $3.6 million, compared to $1.6 million in the same quarter of the previous year, reflecting significant loan growth and a single relationship downgrade. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 That is the amount Boeing raised from a stock offering on Monday to avoid a credit rating downgrade. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
The Eagles announced that Brown was downgraded to out. David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024 August's additions were downgraded from 159,000 to 78,000, and September's from 254,000 to 223,000. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for downgrade 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of downgrade was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near downgrade

Cite this Entry

“Downgrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downgrade. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

downgrade

1 of 2 noun
down·​grade -ˌgrād How to pronounce downgrade (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on downgrade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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