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

It’s also made Boston’s defense more susceptible, as Vucevic and third-stringer Luka Garza both are downgrades at that end. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Brightline bonds have suffered a series of credit-rating downgrades during the past 11 months. —Tom Hudson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Verb

Asian development bank sharply downgrades growth forecasts The Asian Development Bank sharply downgraded its growth forecasts for the continent as the Iran war drove energy prices higher. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Pluto was long considered the ninth and furthest planet in our solar system from the sun until it was controversially downgraded in 2006 in a vote by members of the International Astronomical Union. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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