n.[C]

1. （路等的）下坡；向下的路（或趨勢）
2. 【喻】下坡路
   The store's business has been on the downgrade for the past few years.

   最近幾年這家商店的生意每況愈下。

vt.

1. 使降級；使降職；使降低保密級[（+to）]
   Some of the employees working for this firm have been downgraded.

   這家公司有幾名僱員被降了職。

2. 降低，貶低；小看
   He often downgrades people he does not like.

   他常常貶低自己不喜歡的人。

v.

n.

1. an instance of downgrading.
2. N. Amer. a downward gradient.