demote
verb (used with object)
to reduce to a lower grade, rank, class, or position (opposed to promote).
had demoted
-
past perfectof demote.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
They had demoted Knack back to the minors, and watched Wrobleski give up four runs in six innings to the St. Louis Cardinals as his replacement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2025
She was a surprise choice: At the time, Gentzler had been working at a station in Philadelphia that had demoted her from anchoring on weeknights — the marquee shift — to weekends.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2022
She said that Mr. Besson had demoted her in the credits of another film, “Taxi 5,” after she had stopped answering his calls for a while.
From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2018
Irked at astronomers who had demoted Pluto from its status as a planet, Mr. Prine wrote “Lonesome Friends of Science” by himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2018
Silently he cursed the captain of the guards who had demoted him to night sentry duty, then he cursed Vokal for his mad judgment in picking so heartless a captain to begin with.
From The Return of Tharn by Howard Browne
