Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To lower the status, rank, or salary of.
  • transitive verb To minimize the importance, value, or reputation of.
  • noun A descending slope, as in a road.
  • noun An act of downgrading, as in status, rank, or amount.
  • noun A decline, as in fortune, status, or condition.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A reduction of a rating, as a financial or credit rating.
  • verb To place lower in position.
  • verb To 'dumb down', reduce in complexity, or remove unnecessary parts.
  • verb meteorology to reduce the official estimate of a storm's intensity.
  • verb computing To revert software back to an older version.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb rate lower; lower in value or esteem
  • noun the property possessed by a slope or surface that descends

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From down- +‎ grade.

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Examples

  • Is the Remington x-mark pro triggers a downgrade from the old remington triggers?

    SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles - Part 6518 2009

  • The numbers will almost certainly reflect a downgrade from the steady growth scenario the officials envisioned in forecasts released in July.

    Five questions for the Fed on the eve of QE2 Neil Irwin 2010

  • I should have guessed there was going to be a problem when I called to downgrade and said I wanted to downgrade from the Triple Play and the customer service rep said Okay we can do that for you.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Verizon FIOS 2010

  • Fitch Ratings said Wednesday Portugal needs financial support and a "timely and credible" economic program from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to avoid a likely near-term downgrade to its credit rating.

    European Stocks End Higher Andrea Tryphonides 2011

  • He called the downgrade an "irresponsible move" that may "have spillover effects" such as higher borrowing costs for home buyers, credit-card holders, car buyers, and state and local governments.

    Republicans Push Back on Higher Taxes Siobhan Hughes 2011

  • I should have guessed there was going to be a problem when I called to downgrade and said I wanted to downgrade from the Triple Play and the customer service rep said Okay we can do that for you.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Verizon FIOS 2010

  • Fitch Ratings downgraded Ireland's long-term foreign - and local-currency issuer default ratings to A+ from AA -, while keeping a negative outlook, which means a further downgrade is possible.

    Dollar Slides Against Yen Andrew J. Johnson 2010

  • So the wealthy may have to downgrade from the Mercedes to the Lexus.

    House Dems to levy new tax on wealthy to pay for health care 2009

  • According to Alec Phillips, a Goldman Sachs political economist based in Washington, the increased momentum toward a deal "reduces the risk of the near-term downgrade of the U.S. sovereign rating."

    Making the Call on U.S. Credit Rating Damian Paletta 2011

  • In a statement, an S&P spokesman said the firm had signaled in August that the tobacco bonds could face a near-term downgrade.

    For Munis, Calm After Storm Michael Corkery 2011

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