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
Just before making that payment, Saks reached a deal with bondholders for up to $600 million in new financing to increase the company’s liquidity and better meet obligations to vendors, but the maneuver triggered a downgrade by Standard & Poor’s. David Moin, Footwear News, 16 July 2025 Shares of Enphase Energy also slipped 2% after similarly receiving a downgrade to neutral from overweight. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 15 July 2025
Verb
Mizuho Securities and Stifel each downgraded CoreWeave to hold earlier this month, while Citigroup on July 8 placed a downside catalyst watch on the stock. Pia Singh, CNBC, 22 July 2025 Mexico’s aviation safety rating was downgraded by the FAA in May 2021 for non-compliance with minimum international safety standards. Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 22 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Downgrade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downgrade. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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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