downgrade
pronunciation
How to pronounce downgrade in British English:
UK [ˌdaʊnˈɡreɪd]
How to pronounce downgrade in American English:
US [ˌdaʊnˈɡreɪd]
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- Noun:
- the property possessed by a slope or surface that descends
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- Verb:
- rate lower; lower in value or esteem
Word Origin
- downgrade (v.)
- 1930, from down (adv.) + grade (v.). Related: Downgraded; downgrading. As a noun, "a downward slope," from 1858.
Example
- 1. Standard & poor 's decision this week to downgrade spain 's credit rating has confirmed the worst .
- 2. Fitch , a credit-rating agency , said it might downgrade romania if the new government fell prey to populism .
- 3. In short , this is the tea party 's downgrade
- 4. The political uncertainty and the effects of the global economic crisis have factored into the decision by international credit rating agencies to downgrade ratings in thailand .
- 5. In december , standard & poor 's threatened to downgrade the country 's credit rating , in large part because the political stalemate prevents the government from addressing its debt problems .