Definition of downgrade
1 : a downward grade (as of a road)
2 : a descent toward an inferior state a career on the downgrade
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of downgrade in a Sentence
a downgrade in the company's stock prices
a singing career on the downgrade
Recent Examples of downgrade from the Web
-
Not incidentally, Jordan revoked the broadcaster’s media license last month, as part of a downgrade of relations with Qatar.
-
Moody’s and Fitch have cut their outlook for Sunac’s debt, while S&P put it under review for a downgrade.
-
Jeff Teague or Patty Mills would represent a downgrade at the position.
-
Shifting metrics resulted in a slight fuel-mileage downgrade per the EPA, lowering various Mustangs’ ratings by 1 mpg due to a change in testing methodology.
-
At a daily briefing before the report's publication, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered questions about a possible downgrade of China to Tier 3.
-
Lagging income and sales tax revenues are responsible for the downgrade.
-
That led to credit downgrades, and the pessimism reverberated to grocery competitors.
-
The downgrade triggered a broader tech selloff, according to Kim Forrest, senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downgrade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of downgrade
1857
downgrade
Definition of downgrade
transitive verb
1 : to lower in quality, value, status, or extent
2 : minimize, depreciate
Examples of downgrade in a Sentence
The restaurant was downgraded from three to two stars.
She didn't intend to downgrade the importance of her colleague's work.
Recent Examples of downgrade from the Web
-
Smith has wanted NSF to put a priority on funding the physical, computing, engineering, and biological sciences, and to downgrade research in the social and behavioral sciences and anything related to climate change.
-
Bethune-Cookman aggressively financed the 1,200-bed dorm after the school’s credit rating was twice downgraded.
-
Mary & Elizabeth hospitals were better than the national average on MRSA in fall and spring 2016 before being downgraded this spring.
-
According to Reuters, the administration is indeed weighing a strategy of coercive diplomacy to pressure Pakistan in just that regard, which may include an escalation of drone strikes there, withholding aid, or even downgrading our relations.
-
Woods could qualify for a diversion program in which the DUI charge is downgraded to reckless driving, which results in probation, fine and other conditions such as taking a DUI course.
-
Ostashay recommended some properties maintain their original ratings while others be downgraded or upgraded.
-
And ratings agencies are expected to downgrade the state's debt to junk status if a budget deal can't be reached by the end of the month.
-
He was projected to possibly be a first overall pick, but after his measurables was downgraded slightly and ended up being selected by Detroit with the 13th pick in ‘11.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downgrade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of downgrade
1930
Financial Definition of DOWNGRADE
downgrade
What It Is
A downgrade is an announcement of an analyst lowering their opinion on the desirability of a company as an investment. It can apply to either debt or equity.
How It Works
Downgrades can come from a variety of sources: brokerage firms, research firms, ratings agencies, etc.
Downgrades of equities can happen for several reasons, but usually they center on industry, regulatory, technology, or management changes that the analyst feels will hinder the issuer's future performance. These factors create fundamental shifts in the analyst's outlook, making the security appear either fully valued or overvalued.
Debt downgrades generally come from ratings agencies such as Moody's or Standard & Poor's (S&P). A downgrade from one of them is a major signal that an issuer is more likely to default on its debt. If a bond is downgraded to a level below investment grade (aka, "junk"), there is often a serious sell off of those bonds, because most institutional investors are forbidden from owning junk bonds.
Why It Matters
Ratings have a large influence on the demand of a security. Downgrades (or even rumors of downgrades) tell investors that a security is now believed to be riskier, which may have a negative impact on the security's price. In turn, downgrades often lead to less trading activity and lowered liquidity.
DOWNGRADE Defined for English Language Learners
downgrade
playDefinition of downgrade for English Language Learners
-
: an area or surface that goes downward : a downward slope
-
: an occurrence in which something becomes worse, less valuable, etc.
downgrade
Definition of downgrade for English Language Learners
-
: to give (someone or something) a lower rank or grade
-
: to cause (someone or something) to be thought of as less valuable, important, etc.
DOWNGRADE Defined for Kids
Definition of downgrade for Students
: a downward slope (as of a road) I lost my brakes on the downgrade.
Definition of downgrade for Students
downgraded
;downgrading
: to lower in grade, rank, position, or standing The hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm.
Learn More about downgrade
-
See words that rhyme with downgrade Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for downgrade Spanish Central: Translation of downgrade Nglish: Translation of downgrade for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of downgrade for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up downgrade? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!