1. to reduce in rank, status, or importance
2. to assign a lower rating or classification to something

1. a downward slope or decline
2. a reduction in rank, status, or quality

Examples

• The company decided to downgrade his position after the poor performance review.
• Credit agencies may downgrade the country’s debt rating.
• The road has a steep downgrade that requires careful driving.
• His transfer to a smaller office felt like a downgrade.
• The software update was actually a downgrade in terms of features.
• The analyst chose to downgrade the stock from buy to hold.
• Trucks must use low gear on the downgrade to avoid brake failure.