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
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.
The carmaker’s shares traded down 4.8% as of 1:20 p.m. Tuesday in New York. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025 Tesla Inc shares are currently trading down about 5.2% on the day. Dividend Channel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 The 2-year yield, meanwhile, traded down less than 2 basis points to 3.725%. Sean Conlon,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 30 June 2025 Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Philadelphia is still considered likely to prefer to remain in the lottery even if the team does trade down from the No. 3 selection, as the Sixers are still hoping to add a talented young player to their current roster. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trade down

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade down was in 1905

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Cite this Entry

“Trade down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20down. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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