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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.

The all-out strike by Unite members over plans to downgrade some refuse workers, who could lose thousands of pounds a year each, started on 11 March.

From

The downgrade in the outlook for the UK economy is nevertheless ahead of predictions for France, Italy and Germany.

From

Uncertainty around trade policy was a "major factor" behind the growth downgrades, Mr Gourinchas said.

From

Members of Unite began staging one-day walkouts in January after being told some workers would be downgraded and have their pay cut.

From

The World Trade Organization said on Wednesday that global trade will shrink as a result of the tariffs while the International Monetary Fund downgraded its predictions for growth because of them.

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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