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 of downgrade

Noun

• deterioration
• decline
• degradation
• declination

Verb

• demote
• 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

Dabrowski, the former president of the Wirepoints conservative policy advocacy group, also noted that past state credit rating downgrades under previous governors were signs of fiscal mismanagement. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026

Domino’s Pizza — Shares of the pizza chain slipped more than 3% on the heels of a downgrade from TD Cowen. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026

Verb

Analyst David George downgraded the bank to an underperform rating from neutral. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026

Kidney concerns that feel urgent but are quietly downgraded. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downgrade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

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