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.
Oil prices dropped, however, with West Texas Intermediate crude futures last trading down 3%. Darla Mercado, Cfp®,fred Imbert, CNBC, 12 June 2026 Tim Connelly traded down for the 24th pick, receiving Trey Lyles from Utah in the deal. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 12 June 2026 From small manufacturers to big-box chains, businesses report customers buying less and trading down to dollar stores, as $4-a-gallon gas and rising service costs reshape everyday spending. Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 Dollar stores are increasingly pulling in shoppers earning over $100,000 annually, who are trading down. Juveria Tabassum, USA Today, 3 June 2026 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 18 Jun. 2026.

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