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View synonyms for

downgrade

[ doun-greyd ]

noun

  1. a downward slope, especially of a road.


adjective

verb (used with object)

downgraded, downgrading.
  1. to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.
  2. to minimize the importance of; denigrate:

    She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.

  3. to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).

downgrade

/ ˈ岹ʊˌɡɪ /

verb

  1. to reduce in importance, esteem, or value, esp to demote (a person) to a poorer job
  2. to speak of disparagingly
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a downward slope, esp in a road
  2. on the downgrade
    waning in importance, popularity, health, etc
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • Ƿɲge noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of downgrade1

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; down 1 + grade
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on the downgrade, in a decline toward an inferior state or position:

    His career has been on the downgrade.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

California is downgraded for its cost of living, which is reasonable enough, but it’s expensive in part because it’s a desirable place to live.

From

Ms Perry took her own life after her school, Caversham Primary in Berkshire, was downgraded from "outstanding" to "inadequate".

From

S&P, meanwhile, recently downgraded the city of L.A.’s rating due to its “weakening financial position and an emerging structural imbalance.”

From

Despite pleas for her husband to downgrade, she said he refused - accusing her of wanting to "turn him into a laughing stock by making him drive a small car".

From

On Friday, the credit rating agency downgraded its long-term rating for the city’s general obligation bonds to AA- from AA.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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