How to pronounce downgrade
Say it like DOWN-grayd. Downgrade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce downgrade. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOWN
- grayd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Downgrade pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- graydGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of downgrade
American and British speakers say downgrade in essentially the same way: /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/ in the US and /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOWN-grayd.
What does downgrade mean?
- To place lower in position.“The stock was downgraded from ‘buy’ to ‘sell’.”
- To reduce in complexity, or remove unnecessary parts; to dumb down.
- To disparage.
- A reduction of a rating, as a financial or credit rating.
- A downhill gradient on a road or railway.
- A reduction in quality; a descent towards an inferior state.
Where does downgrade come from?
From down- + grade.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying downgrade
How do you pronounce downgrade?
Say DOWN-grayd. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/. In British English it is /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in downgrade?
Downgrade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWN). Broken into parts: DOWN · grayd.
Do Americans and Brits say downgrade the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/ and the British form is /ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.