trade down

verb

traded down; trading down; trades down

intransitive verb

1

: to trade something in (such as an automobile) for something less expensive or valuable of its kind

2

: to stock or purchase lower-priced items : economize

Examples of trade down in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Falcons traded down and added to their defense to open Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. —Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 26 Apr. 2026

After trading down three times on Thursday and out of the first round completely, the Buffalo Bills are on the board with their first two picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. —Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

All the same, Hernandez knows what the 49ers are getting in Stribling, who was one of three selections the 49ers made Friday during the second and third rounds of the draft after trading down during Thursday’s first round. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026

In years before the Jim Harbaugh regime, the Chargers didn’t embrace the notion of trading down for more picks. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for trade down

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown