(; ) to give sth a lower grade, value or status 降级；降低（价值或地位）◆They have now downgraded the group's credit rating (= the group is now less likely to pay its debts). 他们现在已经降低了这个集团的信用评级。◆The share price fell after analysts downgraded the stock. 在分析员降低了对该股票的评级以後，股价下跌了。◆The Bank has downgraded its forecast for economic growth. 英格兰银行调低了其对经济增长的预测。
() to give sb a less important job; to make a job less important 使降级；使降职◆They plan to make six managers redundant and downgrade three others. 他们计划解雇六名经理，另外三名经理将被降职。◆Some jobs had gradually been downgraded from skilled to semi-skilled. 某些工种已逐步从熟练工种降格为了半熟练工种。
➡demote ▸downgrade /ˈdaʊngreɪd/
noun
[] ◆A credit-rating downgrade could increase borrowing costs for the company. 信用评级的下降将增加公司的借款成本。◆a downgrade from AAA to A 从 AAA 降格为 A▸downgrading /ˌdaʊnˈgreɪdɪŋ/