down·grade
ˈdau̇n-ˌgrād 
1
: a downward grade (as of a road)
2
: a descent toward an inferior state
a career on the downgrade
downgraded; downgrading; downgrades
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
Michael Bloom, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Nowhere is this gap clearer than in the recent Los Angeles Water and Power municipal bonds credit rating downgrades.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
In attempting to reach a high level of deportations, administration officials have downgraded due process and focused on arrest quotas and numbers rather than concentrating on removing individuals with criminal convictions.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downgrade
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Noun
Bank of America upgrades Progressive to buy from neutral Bank of America upgraded the insurance company on valuation following its downgrade of the stock earlier his month.
—Michael Bloom, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2025
Nowhere is this gap clearer than in the recent Los Angeles Water and Power municipal bonds credit rating downgrades.
—Mindy Lubber, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
The bank downgraded shares of the athletic apparel manufacturer to equal weight from overweight.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025
In attempting to reach a high level of deportations, administration officials have downgraded due process and focused on arrest quotas and numbers rather than concentrating on removing individuals with criminal convictions.
—Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downgrade
Cite this Entry
“Downgrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downgrade. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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