trade down

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to sell a large or relatively expensive house, car, etc, and replace it with a smaller or less expensive one

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trade down Idioms  

1. Exchange for something of lower value or price, as in They bought a smaller boat, trading down for the sake of economy. Similarly, trade up means “make an exchange for something of higher value or price,” as in They traded up to a larger house. [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trade down

Shares initially jumped as high as A$70.87 but have tumbled through the morning in Sydney to recently trade down 2.1% at A$65.51.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

Companies selling to consumers are “quite despondent” about making increases stick, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said in an interview last month, describing shoppers who trade down or defer big purchases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

While hard discounters traditionally rely on lower-income demographics, years of persistent inflation have flipped the script, forcing wealthier households to aggressively trade down.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

“It’s difficult to trade down because the food is priced very competitively.”

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026

There's no reason why we shouldn't get the cottage trade down at the Neck, and all along shore.

From Cap'n Dan's Daughter by Joseph Crosby Lincoln