downgrade
Americannoun
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downgrades
plural
adjective
verb (used with object)
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downgrades,
present (3rd person singular)
-
downgraded,
past participle, past
-
downgrading
present participle
-
to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.
-
to minimize the importance of; denigrate.
She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.
-
to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).
idioms
verb
-
to reduce in importance, esteem, or value, esp to demote (a person) to a poorer job
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to speak of disparagingly
noun
-
a downward slope, esp in a road
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waning in importance, popularity, health, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
downgradesimple
-
downgradessimple
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have downgradedperfect
-
has downgradedperfect
-
am downgradingprogressive
-
are downgradingprogressive
-
is downgradingprogressive
-
have been downgradingperfect progressive
-
has been downgradingperfect progressive
Past
-
downgradedsimple
-
had downgradedperfect
-
was downgradingprogressive
-
were downgradingprogressive
-
had been downgradingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of downgrade
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
His downgrade of AT&T doesn’t reflect a dramatically different view of the company’s financial prospects in the short run.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
They are also calling on the state governor, Bill Lee, to downgrade Pike's punishment to the lesser sentence of life in prison without parole.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Analysts say the first test is whether the agency will downgrade an African government.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Despite the selloff, OAT valuations are becoming increasingly attractive, with limited near-term rating downgrade risk and limited exposure of non-European holders in OATs, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
I think what he needed was evidence to downgrade the stock.”
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
“Today’s announcement implies 12%/11% downgrades to consensus production forecasts over FY28/29,” the broker says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
However, given the around 40% appreciation in its share price so far this year, Daiwa downgrades Naura to outperform from buy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
Nike falls after Bank of America downgrades the stock on concerns about innovation, wholesale revenue, and softening demand.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
Nike falls after Bank of America downgrades the stock on concerns about innovation, wholesale revenues, and softening demand.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
If Moody’s downgrades GE paper, it is a big deal.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Bernstein downgraded AT&T and cut price targets across telecom and cable stocks as SpaceX expands its wireless ambitions.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
The IMF downgraded the forecast of almost 50% of the countries it surveys.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Fitch Ratings recently downgraded the project’s $1.2-billion senior bond to its negative watch list.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
The level three warnings, for heavy rain, and the level four warnings, for landslides have now been either downgraded or lifted by the Japan Meteorological Agency in most areas.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
South Korea’s safety rating was downgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration, and Canadian officials informed Korean Air’s management that they were considering revoking the company’s overflight and landing privileges in Canadian airspace.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
While the downgrading of Sunday’s storms brought some relief, risks continue across the California coast until Tuesday, and there is the longer-term concern of what is expected to be an active El Niño season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
The organisation replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which was scrapped after a series of controversies, including the downgrading of some students during the Covid pandemic.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Ader upgraded Backblaze shares to Market Perform from Underperform—just a few months after downgrading the stock.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
China had sent its defense minister, a primarily diplomatic role with no combat responsibilities, to four straight editions of the dialogue before downgrading its representation last year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
Toward the end of 1971 some management committees were still reported to be disregarding or downgrading general assembly proposals, but such instances were said to be growing progressively fewer.
From Area Handbook for Romania by Donald W. Bernier
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.
